KRO-studio

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

STUDIO BUILDING of the Katholieke Radio Omroep (KRO), built to the design of architect Willem A. Maas (1897-1950) in business expressionist style in the period 1936-1938. The building is prominently situated on the southwest side of the Emmastraat. The craft art applications in and on the building date from circa 1938 and were created by Catholic artists. The three bas-reliefs on the front facade are by Suzanne Nicolas-Nijs; the stained-glass windows in the hall by Joep Nicolas; the wall painting in the hall by Charles Eyck. The stained-glass window "Christus in de Moderne Wereld" above the round staircase by Willem Mengelberg, the leaded glass window "Het lichtbaken" in the narrow corridor next to the round staircase by Jan Vaessen. In the former reception hall - later board room - a stucco ceiling by Jo Uiterwaal, a chandelier by Jan and Eloy Brom, the stained-glass window "de Stad 's-Hertogenbosch" by J. Michels after a design by Ch. Eyck, the stained-glass window of "de Heilige Stede" by J. Everts and the Regentenstuk by Herman Moerkerk.

Description

Studio building consisting of a front building with a large concert hall behind it. The building erected on an L-shaped floor plan in two storeys under a flat roof, has an inner courtyard on the southwest side which is surrounded on the west and southwest sides by corridors and ancillary rooms in a slightly lower volume under a flat roof, to which the large and high studio is adjoined in the west corner under a sloping roof. The inner courtyard is thereby bounded by a sloping west facade. The facades are constructed in yellow brick while articulation is achieved through projecting lintels, canopies and roof overhangs. The windows are of steel. The main building is characterised by curved forms, both in the exterior and in the interior.

The front facade (NE) has rounded corners and is horizontally divided into two sections. To the right of centre is the entrance section under a far-projecting arched canopy and accessible via an arched staircase of five natural stone steps. The facade stone in the right wall section in the porch contains the text: "Diese stone was/laid by pastor/ L.H. Perquin on/ chairman of the / KRO/ Laus Deo/ 16 Dec. 1936". The edge of the canopy is continued above the window row on the left side, which runs over the recessed curved wall section. Large windows with horizontal and vertical glazing bars accentuate the left and right sections of the front facade, with the lintel of the twelve-part right window (with the stained-glass window of "de Heilige stede") continuing as a canopy above the ten-part left window placed in the recessed facade section. Against the facade section above the ground floor are three terracotta reliefs depicting VERUM (left), BONUM and PULCHRUM. On the right side is a flagpole set in a decorative iron support. The curved right side facade (NW) contains on the ground floor a three-part window (with stained-glass window of the city 's-Hertogenbosch), and in the adjoining concavely curved lower facade section the window with leaded glass window (Het Lichtbaken) and the round window with stained-glass window "Christus in de Moderne Wereld". A new building adjoins a projecting volume.

The inner courtyard, on which a statue of Mary (Charles Vos, 1938) is accessible from the west corridor via folding doors. In the north corner the facade at the level of the ground floor runs concavely curved (Hall), further windows.

The interior contains original components, including in the hall the fresco, depicting the three themes Militancy, Teaching and the Fine Arts. In the hall stained-glass windows depicting the fourfold mission of the KRO: Inspiration, Instruction, Artistic Expression and Reporting. The stained-glass window "Christus in de Moderne Wereld", the leaded glass window "Het lichtbaken", the arched staircase with iron curved balustrade, the light fittings in the hall (shell motif and bowls) and the board room with the curved door, the stucco ceiling "Ode aan de muziek", the chandelier with Bohemian crystal, the stained-glass windows of "de Stad 's-Hertogenbosch" and "de Heilige Stede" and the Regentenstuk.

Valuation

Former studio building of the KRO with associated interior components is of general importance for its architectural and cultural-historical value as a well-preserved example of a broadcasting building constructed in business expressionist style after a design by W.A. Maas in the first half of the twentieth century and as a component in the development of Hilversum as the centre of broadcasting, prominently situated on the Emmastraat. The building is of historical-functional importance for the insight it provides into the development of studio construction. The building is of importance because of the artworks integrated into the building, the thematic content of which is tailored to the function and the signature of the building and broadcasting association.