Schoolgebouw, v.m. Westsingel 45 Amersfoort

English translation

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Description

Introduction

Former SCHOOL BUILDING (gymnasium), situated directly in the building line on the west side of the Westsingel, was designed in 1880 by city architect W.H. Kam on commission from the municipality of Amersfoort. The building represents the most important school design that this architect has delivered in Amersfoort. The school building is designed in an eclectic architectural style, with neorenaissance and neoromanesque characteristics.

The front facade on the Westsingel, which forms part of a historic facade wall that also includes the former town hall, is virtually unaltered. The austere interior, of which the layout is still present, nowadays has an office function. Detailing in floors, walls and ceilings is therefore largely of a later date.

Description

The former gymnasium building is situated on an approximately rectangular ground plan. The building consists of two storeys with a complex flattened hipped roof between perpendicularly placed gabled roofs with apex gables, covered with blue Dutch tiles. The facades are constructed of machine-made, greyish bricks with accents of natural stone in the front facade, such as the plinth, panels, roof cornice and in collar, setting and closing stones.

The composition of the front facade (east side) is symmetrical, consisting of two corner risalits, crowned by solid-built apex gables that flank a centre facade counting three bays. The horizontality is emphasised by a sandstone plinth, two cordons and darkly coloured cut joints.

In the narrow centre bay there is on the ground floor in a shallow portico a panelled door with door grille under a segmental fanlight and on the first storey a round arch niche containing the image of Pallas Athene. Below the image is a stone bearing MDCCCLXXX. The centre bay is flanked on either side by a window with coupled casement window under fanlight. The corner risalits, emphasised by corner pilasters, are broader and contain three-part windows with fanlights. All windows, finished with a segment arch, have natural stone sills and, with the exception of those in the centre facade, likewise panels on the underside. The solid-built apex gables with a climbing round arch frieze on natural stone corbels have above the roof cornice covered with natural stone on the corners and above the ridge shell motifs (acroteria). The gable top provided with solid-laid spaced courses is furnished with a small round window.

The rear facade is situated at a small triangular courtyard and has been altered to a limited extent. It is a austere, unornamented rendered facade in which a number of windows are installed at regular intervals in both storeys. A roof shelter, at the level of the first storey, is of a later date and of subordinate importance.

The left side facade is situated at a narrow passage; the right side facade forms the party wall of the adjacent building.

The interior layout has barely been altered.

Valuation

The former school building is of general interest because of its architectural historical value as an intact and characteristic example of a gymnasium in its main form, executed in a combined architectural style with influences of neorenaissance and neoromanesque. Of cultural historical value because of its function which is connected with the history of education. Furthermore, the gymnasium is of ensemble value in relation to the surrounding buildings on the Westsingel. The gymnasium occupies an important place in the oeuvre of architect W.H. Kam.