Bankgebouw, Pelsterstraat 44

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 BANK BUILDING, situated at the corner of two facade walls at the Pelsterstraat and the Kleine Pelsterstraat, built in 1905 by order of Julius Oppenheim according to the design of the Groningen architect A.J. Sanders in Berlage style. The extension from 1910 at the Pelsterstraat in the same style was designed by architect A.Th. van Elmpt. The building is currently in use as an office. Internally, the original layout is largely preserved. Description The striking building is erected on a rectangular ground plan and consists of two storeys and a loft storey under a hipped roof, covered with slates. The building is one component wide on the south side and two components deep on the west side. Each component is provided with a stepped gable over part of the width. The stepped gables each have a four-part window strip under a unifying lintel. The upper surfaces of the masonry are covered with hardstone plates. A lantern-like chimney pot crowns the roof. The gutters lie behind the masonry. The facades are erected from yellow facing brick and richly decorated with hardstone elements such as corner blocks, consoles and block courses in the masonry. The chamfered corner transitions to the upper storey in a quarter-round section and in a square corner tower with a pyramidal roof and weathervane at loft level. The facades have a grey, flatly finished natural stone cladding up to approximately calf height. The many high-placed windows have a hardstone frame with mullions and transoms for division into lower and upper panes: the latter with glazing bars. Decorated entrance doors are placed on both the south and west sides. The first storey contains single or composite, rectangular windows with lintels under relieving arch suggestions. The windows are divided into lower and upper panes and the hardstone sills project somewhat from the masonry. The corner tower has two-part small windows. Lintels and gable terminations are worked with toothed and grooved profiling in low relief. On either side of the fanlights of the entrances sculpted monkeys project from the facade. The facades also contain wrought-iron wall anchors, flag-staff holders and zinc rainwater downpipes. Internally, the original layout is largely preserved with wooden panelled doors and tiled portals. Evaluation Bank building, designed in 1905 with characteristics of the innovative styles from the beginning of the 20th century according to the design of the Groningen architects A.J. Sanders and A.Th. van Elmpt, of general importance owing to its cultural-historical and architectural-historical value owing to the great architectural quality of the design and owing to its significance in the architects' oeuvre. Moreover, the building forms, owing to its situation, a striking architectural element in its surroundings.