Schoolgebouw, Gabriël Metsustraat 7

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

A completely detached school building erected in 1912 at the corner of the Gabriël Metsustraat and the Van Miereveldstraat. The client for the construction was the board of the Amsterdamsche Vereeniging voor Middelbaar Onderwijs. The board acted in this matter through the person of Chr. Beels. The building was occupied as a Bijzondere Hoogere Burgerschool voor Meisjes. The architect was C.B. Posthumus Meyjes. Among the contractors was the Nederlandsche Maatschappij voor Monier-Werken "De Amstel". Of importance to the final design is a remark by the then director of Public Works: "The Beauty Commission must assess to what extent the design meets the stated requirement that the building must retain the appearance of a villa.". Built in a style related to the so-called 'reorientation towards traditional building methods'.

Description

School building on a rectangular ground plan with large rounded extension on the north side. Above ground level four storeys can be distinguished in the masonry building: ground floor, principal floor, further storey, attic or loft storey. The whole is covered by a truncated hipped roof with slightly curved roof panels at the lower edge. The roof is covered with shingles/slate. Chimneys on the truncated roof section. The edges of the roof panels are reinforced and protected with zinc. On the four corners of the truncated section a tapering rectangular base on which a finial with ornamental ball. All facades stand on a flat natural stone plinth and have a strongly symmetrical window arrangement. All facades have blocked masonry corner pilasters.

The south facade or front facade shows at ground floor level above the plinth four windows with double casement windows with six-pane glazing bars. Natural stone accent on the corners of the masonry brick corbels. Natural stone sill. Entrance arrangement in the centre. Double opening wooden door in portico. On either side coupled Doric columns on basement support the moulded underside of the principal floor balcony. Narrow natural stone string course with moulding. Masonry between plinth and string course with recessed rules. The principal floor has large cross windows with six- and four-pane panes. Natural stone sills, accents and corner stones at the brick corbel. In the centre a natural stone rectangular balcony with partly closed balustrade with cassettes and partly open balustrade with balusters. A double opening door with four-pane fanlights provides access to the balcony. Natural stone frame around this door. Composed of pilasters and main entablature with frieze and dark-coloured architrave. Two fluted consoles and two decorative urns with broad belly and garlands. On the further storey five similar cross windows. Further two festoons interpreted as trophies. These feature, amongst others, owls. Natural stone entablature with profile bands, a high frieze with triglyphs and festoons, consoles and projecting architrave as gutter line. On the roof panel three large dormer windows. Left and right a wooden dormer window with large multi-pane window. Wooden 'claw pieces' and architrave with pediment. In the centre a wooden dormer window with large multi-pane window. Wooden posts on the side. Serliana-form pediment with architrave and finials.

The east facade or right side facade is identical to the four outermost bays of the front facade. The west facade or left side facade is identical to the four outermost bays of the front facade. On the western roof panel stand two large dormer windows, identical to the left and right dormer windows of the front facade.

The north facade or rear facade is dominated by a large rounded rectangular extension in the centre. The side facades of this show windows with double casement windows with six-pane glazing bars. Further natural stone sills, corner stones and masonry brick corbels. Blocked masonry pilasters separate the vertical facade sections. At the rounded corners diagonally placed window arrangements with coupled and by narrow wall piers separated windows. Further similar natural stone accents and masonry brick corbels. The central facade section is built higher and breaks through the main entablature. Almost entirely occupied by large multi-pane windows with natural stone mullions and further accentuation and leaded glass window filling. The uppermost window arrangement is arched. Interrupted moulding with finials and segmental crown. Remainder of the north facade has facade termination identical to the other facades. The roof of the extension is ogival tapering towards flat roof and is covered with zinc. Small dormer window with round window and segmental pediment with cornice. On the ground floor two entrance doors and three small windows.

Valuation

School building of general importance for its architectural, cultural historical and typological value. Further of urban and situational importance as an architecturally adapted component of the villa development around the Museumplein.