Handelskantoor, Keizersgracht 573

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

An OFFICE BUILDING erected in 1909-1910. Inside further a caretaker's dwelling. The client was the N.V. Nederlandsch Indische Escompto Maatschappij, based in Batavia. This concerned the Amsterdam agency. The architect was J.A. van Straaten. It was his commission to alter, extend and unite the plots/townhouses Keizersgracht 573-575. During construction the Amsterdamsche Fabriek van Cementijzerwerken (Wittenburg, Monier system) was further involved. Designed and built in the style of Neo-Dutch-Classicism.

Description

Office building designed on a rectangular ground plan with five storeys: one low ground floor and three upper storeys, the first of which is conceived as a piano nobile. The whole is covered by a rising hipped roof at the front. Behind this a descending transition to a flat roof. The rising hipped roof is covered with blue slates in Maas coverage. Ridge finish covered with zinc reinforcement. On the ridge further four chimneys placed in even distribution. These chimneys have a natural stone structure with profiled bands and a corbel on which a cover plate resting on posts with metal tent-shaped roof form and a finial as crown. On both the right and left side a broad natural stone band closing off the hipped roof. At the front closing off the facade a natural stone parapet with recessed panels. Left and right a roof dormer with wooden window frame with a double six-paned glazed window. Further cornice and segmental pediment with a hoist beam in the tympanum. The front facade further built up from light-red brick and natural stone.

The front facade has a central risalit with Ionic pilasters in the colossal order. At the far left and right the brick facade steps back slightly. The entire front facade rests on a natural stone plinth. In this plinth a central entrance arrangement with simple double wooden and glazed doors. Both on the left and on the right side another simple single door with lights. Between the doors broad square windows with both broad and narrow glazing and trellis work. Above this plinth a simple projecting cordon moulding. On this rest the profiled bases of the four colossal pilasters of the central risalit. These pilasters have a brick shaft placed against a natural stone background and end in a low Ionic capital. These capitals support in turn the partly Doric entablature, built up from architrave, frieze and cornice. The frieze above the central risalit has seven triglyphs. Above the central risalit a large pediment with surrounding moulding and two florid decorative ornaments set in circular form in the tympanum; between the storeys natural stone slabs with festoons. On the principal storey between the pilasters three windows with raised cross windows. The lower windows have a ten-paned glazing bars. The upper windows a four-paned glazing bars. Both the left and right part of the facade have a broad bay-like window arrangement with four ten-paned windows below the horizontal glazing and four four-paned windows above this glazing in a simple natural stone framing. On the two storeys between the pilasters each three windows with cross windows. The lower windows have a six-paned glazing bars. The upper windows a four-paned glazing bars. Left and right on both storeys bay-like window arrangements with four six-paned windows below the horizontal glazing.

Valuation

Building of general importance because of its architectural-historical value. Further of importance as a particular expression of a socio-economic development, also in relation to the former colonies. Situational value.