Woonhuis, Willemstraat 4

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Introduction HOUSING COMPLEX with wooden passage gate, consisting of 36 self-contained workers' dwellings, forming part of the first systematically planned development outside the southern fortifications of Groningen and built in 1865-1866 on commission of 'De Bouwvereniging' in two adjacent building blocks, built in three phases, on the north side of Willemstraat in a sober yet highly characteristic craft-traditional building manner. In the front facade between nos. 12 and 14, between nos. 32 and 34 and between nos. 52 and 54 three "foundation stones" with the name of 'De Bouwvereniging' and the building year (1865/1866). In 1919 the dwellings were taken over by the Groningen bicycle factory Fongers which had built a new factory opposite Willemstraat at Hereweg. At some dwellings the gutters and tiles have been renewed. The layout of most rear facades has been altered in the form of new shop fronts or extensions; new roof dormers have also been added to most rear roof planes. The rear facades are therefore of secondary importance. No. 54 alone has a new roof dormer in the front roof slope. Description The dwellings on rectangular floor plans are constructed of red Groningen brick and all have a rear yard. There are types of dwellings of two, three and four bays wide; all dwellings comprise one storey under hipped and gabled roofs, covered with black old Dutch tiles. The facades are finished with a simple, profiled wooden rainwater gutter. The building blocks are visually separated in the dwellings by single or double executed chimney stacks with coping plate. Each dwelling has in the front facade a relatively narrow door frame with transom, wooden panelled door and fanlight. Most dwellings have the original 6-pane (sash) windows with stretchers. Dwellings nos. 4 to 10 have 6-pane windows with rounded top corners and rollers. No. 4 has a masonry original cabin with nice, pierced wooden roof edge with hanging stile. Between no. 10 and 12 a wooden passage gate, consisting of double clamped doors with reinforcement crosses. Appraisal Housing complex with passage gate, consisting of 36 workers' dwellings, forming part of the first systematically planned development outside the southern fortifications of Groningen at Willemstraat, as a whole of general importance because of its cultural-historical and architectural-historical value, because of the age and integrity of the dwellings in connection with the characteristic street profile with old trees, and because of its great significance for the social-economic history of Groningen and for the development of working-class housing in the 19th century in particular.