Kledingzaak, Naauw 3

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

SHOP WITH FLAT ABOVE, circa 1905 and possibly built to the design of architect W.C. de Groot, a tall shop building in an lavish and stylistically pure Neo-Renaissance style. Th. Zuhorn probably commissioned the fashion store; in 1916 this 'lapkepoep' is certainly occupying the building. One of the most remarkable (shop) buildings in this style because the lavishly decorated neo-renaissance otherwise appears in Leeuwarden in buildings that are meant to convey institutional prosperity and representation, such as the Julia wing of Nieuw Sint-Anthoon and the main building of the Deaconess Hospital, both works by W.C. de Groot. The building has remained in use as a shop. The current occupier has restored the original shop front to view and found some damage there that has not yet been repaired.

Description EXTERIOR: Tall, narrow and shallow building on a wedge-shaped plan of three storeys under a high gabled roof. Front facade largely built of brownish-grey pressed brick, interspersed with bands of sandstone. The shop front on the ground floor is set within a gate-like construction, supported by pilasters of red-pink brick on bases of hard stone with rusticated fields, bands of hard stone and list capitals/consoles. On these supports stood (now no longer present) supporting animals of hard stone, on the left a winged wolf and on the right a wolf without wings. On these supports rests an iron lintel, decoratively wrought from iron in an arched form and fitted with air vents. Above the lintel a substantial moulded cornice has been laid. Within this supporting structure on the left a porch with tiles and a non-original shop door and on the right a display window with glass curved in a quarter round on the porch side on a moulded base. From the middle of the second storey the facade possesses increasing plastic articulation through a projecting arrangement of wall piers, round arches and a highly plastic gable top, all lavishly enriched with sculpture of sandstone. The still narrow pilasters begin on the sides halfway up the second storey and are supported by consoles in the form of female masks with Ionic scroll-work. After intermediate capitals with blocks the pilasters are carried slightly heavier along the third storey and there begins halfway up the pier between the windows also in the centre an articulated pilaster, resting on a console with a bearded male head also with scroll-work. Above the windows of the third storey the articulated pilasters converge in four large round arches which above the windows are supported by keystones/consoles in the form of wolf heads. The tall cross-windows of the second storey are covered by fan-shaped relieving arches with niches and the compressed cross-windows of the third storey by basket-arch relieving arches with niches and recessed arch drums with brick mosaic. Console-shaped keystones of the round arches and at the corners diagonally placed little cherub heads support a moulding that marks the transition from the third storey to the gable top. The gable top is formed in stylistically pure Neo-Mannerist style after models from the pattern books of Hans Vredeman de Vries. It is a top with much strapwork with claw pieces and ornamental balls and twice over a moulded cornice with swag-shaped consoles. In the first gable field the cross-window - originally with shutters - is flanked by double pilasters. In the highest gable field a large Mercury head with winged helmet is depicted in full relief. A curved tympanum with shoulders, ornamental balls and a small obelisk crowns the whole.

INTERIOR: On the ground floor rebuilt multiple times for various shop functions. Under the suspended ceiling richly decorated cornice detailing of the walls and a stucco ceiling are still present. The flat above is as regards layout still largely in original condition, but the finishes are, except for among other things the panel doors, entirely modernized.

Valuation

Building of general cultural-historical and architectural-historical importance

- as a remarkable example of entrepreneurial pride through which this shop building expresses representation and decorum;

- because of the well-preserved and richly decorated Neo-Renaissance style;

- because of the prominent place which the building by its height occupies in the closed facade wall at the waterfront of the Naauw.