Woonhuis, Engelsestraat 6

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

VILLA Engelsestraat 6 forming part of a COMPLEX of ten villas in timber-frame construction, Harlingerstraatweg 29-41 and Engelsestraat 2-6, built in the winter of 1922-'23 in the Chalet style. The developer was K. Wits, director of the N.V. Maatschappij tot huizenexploitatie Frisia and J. Scheltema the executing and supervising architect. The dwellings were obtained as building kits from Austria, for Leeuwarden an early example of standardised construction for this type of dwelling. The design was supplied by the manufacturer, the 'Vereinigte Möbel- & Holtzwarenfabriken u. Sägewerke Schönthaler - Silva' from Vienna. However, compared to the drawing of the building application, some modifications took place. In the drawing the roof at the front is curved; executed are stepped gables with substantially overhanging gabled roofs. Moreover all dwellings received at the side near the rear rooms trapezoidal bay windows with balconies for the upper storey. These may be modifications by Scheltema. The building cost of the villas prefabricated in Austria and transported in elements to the building site amounted, including transport costs, per unit to somewhat more than f 9000,-. Internally the dwelling has been substantially altered, especially on the ground floor; the exterior is still nearly intact.

Description

EXTERIOR: The villa is built in timber-frame construction with wooden walls. The predominantly wooden parts, tongued and grooved, are incorporated in the framework and studs. With the substantially overhanging gabled roof the villa has a distinctly foreign Chalet style.

The dwelling has a rectangular floor plan and is two full storeys and a spacious roof high, on the rear side a volume of one storey with a lean-to roof has been added across the full width, in which originally the conservatory (called veranda in the design) and the scullery are housed. In the original rear facade are three windows with small glazing bars and a glass door; the glazing bars of the glass door have disappeared. The gabled roof has substantial overhangs on front and rear and is covered with red, corrugated Frisian tiles. On the roof slopes on both sides stand fairly closed, wooden roof dormers with small cross windows. On the front on the ground floor is in the middle a trapezoidal bay window built out, on which for the upper storey a balcony came. Also on the side of the rear room such a bay window with balcony has been built out. In the gable tops the wooden parts are worked vertically in the tops and the sides. Front and rear facades are opened with spacious windows, below sash windows with fanlights provided with cross glazing bars. On the upper storey are two-light windows with small glazing bar divisions; the balcony doors are flanked by single windows of this type. Here they are provided with shutters. The side facades have an irregular articulation with large and small windows, likewise provided with small glazing bar divisions. In a number of dwellings the glazing bar divisions have disappeared, but all still have the fanlights with cross glazing bars.

On the coloured design drawing the woodwork is indicated in light brown and dark beige; old (black and white) photographs suggest that the dwelling was indeed painted in mid-tones. Currently the walls are dark brown; the framework and studs are white and the frames, windows, shutters and doors white/dark green. This approach in broad terms is detailed in lively detail on individual parts. The balconies have flat, vase-shaped balusters and balls on the fence posts. In the front gable top the vertical parts end in disc shapes, possibly for the drip moulding, which in most dwellings are painted in contrasting colours. In the front gable top are at the sides on the point square ornaments applied and in the top similar ornaments that received a small pane.

INTERIOR: The dwelling layout on the ground floor originally consists at the front of a small vestibule, a hall where the staircase and cloakroom/toilet open onto. Next to the entrance part lies a broad front parlour. The still present suite doors are framed by cupboards and lead to a narrower rear room. The rear room originally opened onto the conservatory with again suite doors between cupboards; that has disappeared and the space has been drawn to the rear room. Next to the rear room lies a spacious kitchen where the pantry and the scullery have been added. The remarkably easy, gentle staircase leads to the upper storey; the staircase is, like the landing and the staircase to the second storey, provided with railings with balusters. On the upper storey are three bedrooms housed; the two that lie in line with each other originally had a connecting door in a cupboard wall. The partition wall with connecting door have been boarded over with a cupboard wall. In most dwellings on the upper storey the original panel doors are still present. Under the roof lie two bedrooms with built-in cupboards on one of the sides and a cabinet.

VALUATION

The timber villa is of general historical, architectural-historical and urban planning importance

- due to the for that time rarely occurring, imported from abroad timber system construction, which probably relates to the shortage and expense of brick material;

- due to the thereby in the existing architectural image remarkably exotic Chalet style of the externally intact, internally adapted dwellings, whereby this dwelling is the only one with the original rooms en suite;

- as an element in the lively, but not restless urban planning grouping of the ten villas on and near a spacious crossroads.