Erasmushuis, Hollandsche Bank-Unie

English translation

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Description

Introduction:

OFFICE BUILDING, named Erasmushuis, of the Hollandsche Bank-Unie on the east side of the Coolsingel, between Bulgersteyn and Churchillplein. Built in 1939-1940 in functionalist style after design by W.M. Dudok. Together with several other buildings in the centre of Rotterdam, this building survived the bombardments of May 1940.

N.B. On the ground floor at the Coolsingel there is a semicircular extension after design by B. Kraaijvanger, realised in 1986.

Description:

Office building of twelve storeys and a basement storey (with vault) on a rectangular ground plan with a rectangular extension on the south side of one storey on (full-height) concrete columns. All building parts have a flat roof. The building has a concrete skeleton clad in white glazed brick (laid in English bond) above a black marble plinth. Originally all windows were set in thin steel profiles. The windows on the ground floor - all facades - are fitted with bars. The four facades of the high-rise are all different. The west facade, at the Coolsingel, contains on the ground floor to the left the representative main entrance, with marble staircase leading to doors with gold-coloured anodised aluminium profiles. The hall on the ground floor is clad with white marble. Accessible via a revolving glass door in gold-coloured anodised aluminium. Of this same material are also, among others, the stair railings. The facade further contains per storey a concrete balcony behind which a rectangular window bay and door with a small round window. The balconies project slightly over the northern corner and cover approximately three-fifths of the facade. They are closed off on the right by a low wind screen and further by fine iron railings of which the top rail runs around throughout. On the right in the facade per storey a round window. The facade is terminated by a taut, slightly projecting cornice which is crowned by the letters 'HBU'. The northern facade, at the Bulgersteyn, is characterised by a continuous bay where stairs, lifts and halls are incorporated. This bay extends to one storey above the roofline and forms a powerful vertical element in the facade. On the ground floor there is here the service entrance with curved canopy on which in iron letters the word 'Erasmushuis'. To the left of the bay there is per storey an almost square window. To the right is always a small balcony attached to the bay which, conforming to the balconies in the western facade, is closed off by a low wind screen and iron railings. To the right of the balconies are rectangular, horizontal window strips and at the far right of the facade per storey a round window. The western corner is additionally accentuated by the balconies of the western facade projecting over the corner. Facade and bay are again terminated by a taut cornice, with on the right the letters 'HBU'. The eastern facade has no balconies, but is entirely taken up by per storey two rectangular, horizontal window strips lying in line with each other. The stair landings projecting over the corner at the south facade accentuate the storey heights. The southern facade is dominated by the slanting lines of the concrete emergency stairs which connect the balconies with each other. Two-fifths of the facade is taken up by the balconies and stairs. The balconies have a rounded termination and are furnished with iron railings which continue in the balustrade of the stair.

The landings project slightly over the corner of the east facade. The rest of the facade is regularly filled with rectangular, horizontal window strips. Here too the roofline cornice is crowned with the letters 'HBU'. At the south-eastern corner the two-storey extension is realised, which consists of a rectangular, largely glazed storey of four bays wide, which stands on full-height concrete columns, in order to afford a free view of the neighbouring Schielandhuis. All around the storey a projecting balcony with iron railings. Only the most southern bay of this side wing is also partly filled in on the ground floor. Here a semicircular stairwell is built on which was originally entirely of glass and steel. The stairwell projects above the roofline and provides access to a roof terrace which is surrounded by iron railings.

Valuation:

Office building in functionalist style of general importance because of its cultural-historical, architectural-historical and urban planning value, and also of importance within the oeuvre of W.M. Dudok.