Boas

English translation

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Description

Complex component with monument number 498625 (MAIN BUILDING)

Narrow yet elongated (originally symmetrical) main building, set back and erected in 1878-79 to an eclectic design by J.W. Meijer in brick, interspersed with some accents in natural stone, with four storeys and a roof storey under a hipped roof covered with blue tiles, whereby the tower-like central risalit, as well as the left wing added in the same style, has five storeys. The facades are provided with small arched friezes on the ground floor and below the continuous cornice with small consoles, as well as with rusticated corner pilasters at the risalits and with round-arched windows with originally iron glazing bars. On either side of the central risalit three window-axes wide facing the street are located on each side a polishing workshop wing counting fourteen window-axes, with an adjoining side risalit the width of one window-axis, marked at the division by a later-added stepped parapet wall. The central risalit contains the round-arched (modernised) main entrance with steps in the middle, with whitewashed, partly rusticated surround, continuing around the middle window of the storey above and at the plinth and corner pilasters; at the location of the former name frieze, at the conversion in 1989 the name of the current occupant (Gassan Diamonds) was placed; the whole has been crowned since the renovation of 1909 for the installation of a lift at the central staircase by an attic with continuous balustrade with spherical ornamental vases at the corners, in place of a pediment. Both side risalits each contain a (modernised) round-arched entrance with plastered, partly rusticated surround and the inscriptions ANNO, respectively 1879. The long facade on the side of the Uilenburgergracht is virtually identical to that on the Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat, with the main differences being that the - further projecting - central risalit at the waterfront is four window-axes wide and is crowned by a triangular pediment with oculus and that at the risalits on the ground floor storey only plastered pilasters are applied and at the conversion the original side entrances were replaced by a round-arched window. Also, the former railings on either side of the central risalit were then removed. The four window-axes wide gable facade contains mainly round-arched blind windows, with the exception of the left bay, in which (modernised) round-arched windows are installed. The left wing (or 'New Factory') added in 1887 to a design by C. Alberts in a related style the width of eight window-axes has a blind gable and is crowned on both long sides by a triangular pediment with oculus. The internal structure of the entire main building, with largely undivided spaces, consists of profiled cast-iron columns, which rest on mother and daughter beams supporting wooden floors, whereby double-span openings are realised in the middle for the original machine installations and drive mechanisms. In the hall next to the staircase of the main building a plaque with inscription from 1879 is placed, and in the left wing a commemorative stone from 1887. Rationally, arranged according to the production requirements of the time and originally entirely equipped for the application of steam power, factory building for the diamond industry, with building-historical and stylistic characteristics typical for its time of origin.