Moria

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.

North of the hamlet Helwijk lies the farm "Moria" of the West Brabant type with a detached DWELLING HOUSE. The building dates from 1907, as evidenced by a stone plaque at the entrance of the house. The property belongs stylistically to the Chalet style and has Art Nouveau features. Over time, the curved woodwork between the wind braces typical of the Chalet style has been lost in both gable ends, as has the cresting on the ridge of the main volume. Around 1930, a so-called 'drawing room' in Art Deco style was fitted out in the property, on which occasion the room received a three-sided bay window. The dwelling house has been partially modernised internally on the conservatory side with respect for the original structure. The complex is surrounded by a large garden.

Description.

The partially cellared dwelling house on a composite floor plan has one storey with an attic storey beneath a roof covered with black barrel tiles. On the main volume a gabled roof with half-hipped ends on both sides, hip rafters and wind braces, at the front above a projecting volume. Perpendicular to this roof lies on the south side the projecting central section of the side elevation. It is covered with a gabled roof with half-hipped end, hip rafters and cresting. The single-storey volume closes with a flat roof with hipped ends to the main volume and has in the front and side hipped end respectively one and two identical roof dormers.

These have carved wings, pilasters and moulded profiles beneath a gabled roof with half-hipped end and obelisk. The roof covering consists of so-called shingles, the verticals are clad with slates. At the rear of the single-storey volume an extension adjoins beneath a mansard roof covered with black barrel tiles and with roll mouldings in the gable end. On the main volume at the rear roof windows, further three chimneys, one of which on the rear extension. At the roof eaves are cornice gutters on carved corbels all around. The dwelling house stands a number of steps above ground level. It has a rendered plinth all around and is built in Flemish bond brickwork. Red facing brick is used in the bay window and around the windows. Rendered bands on front and side elevation, one model of ornamental wall anchors in all walls. The most commonly used type of window is the single-pane sash window with leaded light, in the rear elevation and incidentally filled with ochre-coloured cathedral glass. Practically all windows have roller shutters. In the asymmetrical front elevation lies at a three-step-high stoop recessed the entrance with a panelled door with a leaded light filling with two-coloured surround. The porch, where a stone plaque has been installed, has tiled wainscoting with green-orange floral decoration on yellow ground. To the right of the central entrance lie two single-pane sash windows beneath a segmental arch and to the left in the bay window three likewise windows all with tile filling of red rosettes and green tendrils against blue background. The same motif in the tile decoration between the corbels of the frieze that terminates the single-storey volume. The three-sided bay window has an overhanging balcony with natural stone balustrade. The frame with French doors and side windows is closed with a segmental arch with wooden radial bars filled with coloured cathedral glass. In the southern side elevation lies centrally a slightly projecting section with gable. A brick steps with open balustrade give access to the side entrance with door and side window above which a T-window with two lights. Both have a half-round closure which, like the two windows to the right, have a filling of geometric brick mosaic. To the left lies the bay window constructed of wood and glass beneath a lean-to roof with diamond-pattern tiling. A brick steps of five steps to the garden door. In the northern side wall the single-storey volume and the rear extension adjoin seamlessly. There are various types of windows as well as a three-sided bay window which is built in brown stretcher bond and filled with undivided windows beneath a closing cornice. Further two grated cellar hatches in the rendered plinth. In the rear extension lie clasped doors and windows which, like all openings of this volume and those in the rear elevation, are closed with a rendered segmental arch filling. The property is rich in decorative elements. Besides those mentioned, there is on the southern elevation below the rendered cornice a tile frieze of three borders with different geometric motifs in beige on red ground. Art Nouveau elements further in the tracery with lilies of several narrow segmental arch windows in the rear elevation, further as incisions in lintels and abutments in the front elevation.

Internally the characteristic layout with central corridor, with white marble floor, and rooms on either side on the ground floor and first floor has been retained. On the left side the original main living rooms have been made into one space and for better living comfort at the level of the conservatory a modern kitchen has been provided. On the right side lies the original layout with corner room, stairwell, the 'drawing room' and the rear extension with the kitchen with barrel-vaulted cellar and scullery with large fireplace. The staircase with two flights and carved balusters has a richly carved newel with amongst other things lion head with copper ring. The drawing room in Art Deco style has wooden wainscoting of Java teak with built-in open and closed cupboards with veneer inlay of Indian rosewood. Above the wainscoting the original tiling with cloth with stylised floral motif.

Valuation.

The dwelling house is of general interest. It has cultural-historical value as a representative of the agricultural development of the clay region and has typological significance as an early example of a farmhouse differing in style and volume. It has architectural-historical value as a representative of an architectural style consistently carried through in all details current around the turn of the century. Dwelling house and outbuilding have ensemble value due to the functional and landscape coherence of the villa-farm with the surrounding garden with fencing, hedges, orchard and old trees and further as a characteristic component of the series of valuable farms and dwelling houses along the Steenpad. The dwelling house has been largely preserved intact and possesses in the drawing room a rare well-preserved example of an Art Deco interior.