De Hermitage

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

Large detached VILLA with former COACH HOUSE, located on the north side of the Jhr.mr. G.W. Molleruslaan (formerly Vijverlaan) in line with the Oranjelaan. This villa, named 'de Hermitage', dates from 1878 and is thus among the oldest villa development in the villa district de Parken, whose development began in 1874 with the purchase of the estate De Pasch by Hendrik Christiaan van der Houven van Oordt (1837-1903). This property has had various functions since its construction in 1878. The building was constructed in neoclassical style at the instigation of the aforementioned Van der Houven van Oordt and was sold in the same year to fuel merchant J.B. Hugenholtz. On old maps it is also indicated as a "transit house" (a type of boarding house?) and in 1913 it was in use as a church of the Protestantse Bond. Later it became a nursing home. Now it is a dwelling house again.

The original house had a rectangular ground plan, as at least indicated on the cadastral map of 1880. Not long after, the side elevations must have been provided with the characteristic wooden verandas which were later closed off and converted into conservatories. In the early 20th century the rear elevation was provided with an extension. Around the middle of the 20th century the house underwent alterations according to plans by architect J.G. van Dongen jr. (1896-1973). In this period the windows on the storey were probably enlarged, the verandas were built in and the extension against the rear elevation was heightened, over which the gabled roof was continued.

Description

The brick building, laid in Flemish bond, is erected on a rectangular ground plan and comprises two storeys under a gabled roof covered with bitumen. The elevations have a plastered plinth. The storey is plastered and painted white above a continuous frieze with stucco rosette ornaments.

The symmetrically arranged FRONT ELEVATION has on the ground floor an 'arcade', consisting of three coupled plastered semicircular arches, containing single-pane double doors, moulded cornices and semicircular 2-pane fanlights. The wall piers on either side of the doors are plastered in block bond. The storey has a three-light with a single-pane double door in the centre and narrow single-pane windows to left and right. Above this, in painted letters, is the name of the house (de Hermitage) and a small attic window. The overhanging roof rests on the extended, cut ends of the roof beams.

The LEFT SIDE ELEVATION has on the right a wooden conservatory under a lean-to roof which is continued over the entrance. The conservatories have wooden posts with list capitals and chamfered edges. The front face contains a non-original elevation filling under a band of wooden parts with a carved underside. The side faces have wooden panels behind the boarding (?) and above these multi-pane glass panels. Above this the half gables are clad with vertical wooden parts with a carved underside. To the left of the conservatory the entrance with substantial moulded semicircular arch and blocked pilasters. The entrance has a double panelled door with moulded cornice and 2-pane fanlight. On the left the elevation contains a window with moulded, partly block-bond executed surround, single-pane double door, fixed cornice and 2-pane fanlight. The storey has three windows enlarged downwards. The right side elevation of the extension contains on the ground floor an access with 2-pane fanlight. Above this a later added balcony with non-original elevation arrangement.

The REAR ELEVATION has on the right a 6-pane Empire window. The rear elevation of the extension has on the ground floor on the left a single-pane double door with 2-pane fanlight and on the right a small 2-pane window. The RIGHT SIDE ELEVATION contains on the left a wooden conservatory under a lean-to roof. The conservatories have wooden posts with list capitals and chamfered edges. The front face contains a non-original elevation filling. The left side face has wooden panels behind the boarding (?) and above these multi-pane glass panels. Above this the half gable is clad with vertical wooden parts with a carved underside. The right face is of plastered masonry. To the right of the conservatory two windows, the left one a T-window with 2-pane fanlight, the right one now a single-pane window with 2-pane fanlight. The storey has windows enlarged downwards. The right side elevation of the extension has on the ground floor a 6-pane Empire window, the storey a 2-pane double window.

In the INTERIOR various original elements were preserved, such as moulded door frames, a vestibule with marble floor and draught porch with door with radiating glass, depicting reed plumes and birds (presumably blue herons); furthermore several simple black marble mantels and a fairly austere stairwell with turned wooden newel post and (boarded-up) wooden balusters. In the kitchen a small fireplace and fixed cupboard with panel doors and double 2-pane doors. Along the softboard ceilings remains of stucco moulding work were found, presumably belonging to stucco ceilings.

To the right behind the house stands a small former coach house with rectangular ground plan, one storey and a gabled roof with damped tuiles du Nord and wooden weather vanes. The elevations are built of brick in half-brick bond. The front elevation contains a renewed garage door and an attached door (without monumental value) and above this a shuttered wooden shutter under a segmental arch. In the side elevation an oculus window with cast-iron grille window.

The house is partly located on a brick terrace with two brick steps at the front. Little remains of the original garden. However, a group of fine sturdy trees still stands on the east side.

Valuation

Urban villa with influences of neoclassicism from 1878, with coach house.

- Of architectural-historical value as a good and - particularly as far as the exterior is concerned - fairly well-preserved example of a villa with ornaments influenced by neoclassicism. The building stands out for high-quality aesthetic qualities, such as the advanced use of materials and rich ornamentation. Characteristic are the conservatories below. There is ensemble value as part of the villa district de Parken, within which the building belongs to the villa types common around 1900, which together with the older and later types and styles very well demonstrate the development of villa construction.

- Of urban planning value by its location on the Jhr.mr. G.W. Molleruslaan, at the head of the Oranjelaan. Both lanes still possess a stock of historical houses preserved in fairly good condition, which together with the many private and public green elements form an attractive, valuable street scene.

- Of cultural-historical value as a recognizable element from a social development. The building was constructed as housing for the new and wealthy urban elite, who preferred to settle in substantial villas in spaciously laid-out Romantically designed villa districts. De Parken is among the largest and oldest villa districts of this type in our country and its development contributed to a marked change in the appearance of the village and the social stratification of its population.

- Of cultural-historical value as residence of Hendrik Christiaan van der Houven van Oordt, the founder of de Parken.

- Of cultural-historical value as one of the oldest, if not the oldest villa in de Parken.