Wooldhuis

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

"Het Wooldhuis", basement storey, elongated villa, built on commission of mayor C.A. van Woelderen after design by D. Roosenburg on a high, continuous brick plinth above which concrete facades with pebble finish under projecting gabled roof with red slate tiles; at the short west facade the villa is semi-circular and at the short east facade straight-sided while the south facade offers views of the Westerschelde and the north facade with entrance section and short transverse wing is oriented towards the landside.

Above the man-high red brick plinth, which is provided with three narrow light openings and marked with traces of war damage, the south facade on the residential storey has four semi-circular closed windows with iron tracery above which four coupled square windows for the closure of a former loggia have been installed; to the right of this over both storeys an oriel window, decorated at the underside with meandering, colourful tile tableaux; halfway up the slope of the roof a long series of windows has been placed.

The semi-circular west facade is opened up by five high glass panes with iron glazing bars; between these windows are narrow, concrete pilasters with pebble finish placed above a protruding concrete moulding above the here slightly lowered brick plinth with traces of bullet impact; at the underside of the windows a double decorated band of green and white painted tiles has been applied, the upper side of the windows is sheltered by the projecting, slightly lowered roof edge; the roof has a conical form and is articulated at approximately one-third of the roof slope with a continuous window zone; on the highest roof point stands an iron weathervane and elsewhere on the ridge a brick chimney.

On the north side in the transverse wing a raised entrance section with on the right side in the plinth zone three narrow window openings and memorial stone with inscription of the text "HET WOOLDHUIS First stone laid by H. v. Woelderen. 20 Aug. 1931"; above this, on the ground floor, a continuous window series and the same series in the roof slope at the same height as the window row of the western roof plane; the entrance section has a brick stair. The transverse wing has two storeys under a hipped roof with semi-circular roof window and is laid with red slate tiles; to the left of the entrance three small circular windows, directly above here, on the upper storey a large rectangular window; diagonal placement of four-fold window series on both storeys on the north-east side of the transverse wing. In the corner of this transverse wing and main axis there is located on the south side a small semi-circular outbuilding with square windows under a conical roof with red slate tiles. The east facade has three storeys under a arched roof plane; on the ground floor a large window with glass door, on the upper storey a likewise window and a circular window with stained glass, on the third storey a window series right below the slightly projecting roof edge. Interior: Bruynzeel floors; separate servants' entrance and rooms on the ground floor on the north side; floor of former laundry and mangle-house with tiles in the colours yellow, liver and black; central heating radiators with tiles for thermal reflection; original lock and key work and picture rails in the majority of the rooms; stained glass windows in sanitary spaces; towel warmer in bathroom on the upper storey; internal call system for servants; paintings by Rie Cramer on ceiling of the boudoir (since World War II covered with grey paint); living room on ground floor (east side) with exotic wooden panelling, chimney breast and glass cabinets; study on the upper storey (west side) with oak wall panelling and associated bookshelves, weathervane in the likewise panelled ceiling with traces of (restored) war damage, closable small fountain and separate archive room.

Valuation

"Het Wooldhuis" etc. was built between 1930-1932 as a representative villa for the then mayor of Vlissingen and is of architectural historical importance as a representative of Interwar architecture. "Het Wooldhuis" has been preserved intact both externally and internally, it expresses a specific design by Roosenburg and gives it form with architectural means of expression. "Het Wooldhuis" was designed as the termination of the boulevard development and provides in its striking appearance, strong colour and silhouette effect an architectural impetus for the dune row while the opening up with glass and (formerly an open) loggia is unambiguously oriented towards the water. Carefully considered material use and spatial arrangement complete the architectural response to the dialogue with water, land and air while also the fire of war did not pass by "Het Wooldhuis". Distinctly nautical associations appear to have been pursued in the study (designed as the bridge of a ship), in the slightly convex or concave form of the masonry and in the porthole-like circular windows beside the entrance section. Within Roosenburg's oeuvre "Het Wooldhuis" occupies a special position through its wealth of forms, facilities, materials (including concrete with pebble finish, steel windows, slate tiles) thorough finish and detailing. Furthermore "Het Wooldhuis" distinguishes itself through the aforementioned urban planning situation within which the likewise by Roosenburg designed servants' houses "De Zandloper" and "Waailust" and the intervening garden. The total historical complex forms a functional, spatially compact and character-defining ensemble that was created in a relatively short time and has been preserved as such.