Nutsbedrijf, van Randwijckweg 2

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

ELECTRIC SUBSTATION built in 1912 to designs by the MUNICIPAL ELECTRICITY WORKS NIJMEGEN, as a power station for the bergspoor (mountain railway) to the village Berg en Dal. The mountain railway led up the escarpment via the Van Randwijckweg and was in operation between 1913 and 1955. The building is an example of utilitarian construction from the early twentieth century with characteristics of Art Nouveau. The station consisted of two machine rooms and an ancillary space in which a waiting room for tram passengers was accommodated.

The building was constructed against the western slope of the escarpment at plein Mooi Nederland, where the Van Randwijckweg joins the Rijksstraatweg. The area is characterized by villa residences and middle-class dwellings. Diagonally opposite the station is the ANWB information office built in the nineteen-thirties. Both buildings are strongly connected with the history of tourism in this area and are both adapted in design to the landscape. Since the closure of the mountain railway, the station has no longer been in use as a power station. The technical installation has been removed. The building now houses the information office of the VVV and is also used as exhibition space for the Museum Mooi Nederland.

Description

Detached SUBSTATION constructed in waal format brick on a rectangular ground plan. The building was built on uneven terrain and is positioned with its rear facade in the escarpment. The building is one storey high and is covered by a flat roof clad with mastic. On the right side is an annex with a slightly lower eaves height, which originally contained the waiting room for tram passengers. The facades of the building are laid in stretcher bond and simple decorative brickwork has been applied for embellishment. The symmetrically arranged FRONT FACADE is divided into two halves by a lisene between two pilaster-like projecting corner pilasters. The facade has a projecting plinth and is topped by an attic zone, formed by a black natural stone coping, which is arched in the centre. Below this roof edge runs an slightly projecting and tiled field across the full width of the facade. This tiling continues on the central lisene. The pilasters each bear a distinctive black finial executed in natural stone. Each facade half has a double wooden panelled door with four panes. The door has a two-part single-pane fanlight (originally four panes) and is flanked by large single-pane windows beneath three-part single-pane fanlights (originally four panes). The plinth of the facade is finished with glazed moulded brick. Narrow decorative bands of glazed brick run across the facade and the windows have red tile drip mouldings at the base. The voussoirs of the arches above the windows are executed in sandstone. Below the tile field runs a dentil course. The tiled field is framed at top and bottom with black glazed brick, interrupted by sandstone pieces at the arch voussoirs. In the centre of the field the coat of arms of the municipality of Nijmegen is incorporated. On either side of this is the inscription 'Electriciteits/werken-Nijmegen'. On the lisene below the municipal coat of arms is a decorative motif. In the front of the right annex is a double panelled door with six panes each. The door has a two-part fanlight (single pane, originally four panes) and is closed at the top with an arch with sandstone voussoirs. Above the door is a non-original clock. The facade is finished with a projecting edge with dentil course and natural stone coping. The RIGHT SIDE FACADE of the annex has a large blind opening which is framed at the top with a dentil course. Within this field are three small non-original windows beneath a string course. Along the right side facade a staircase is built against the slope. The handrail of this staircase is mounted against the side facade of the building. The LEFT SIDE FACADE is blind. The REAR FACADE is built into the hill. The INTERIOR currently consists of a large space and the annex. In the interior the original wainscoting of white tiles with a brown top border is still present. The wall between the two rooms of the station has been opened through, but the girder arches faced with glazed brick are still present.

Valuation

ELECTRIC SUBSTATION from 1912

-Of architectural-historical value as a well-preserved and good typological example of a small power station from the early twentieth century, which displays characteristics of Art Nouveau and which further possesses typical elements of utilitarian construction from those years, such as brick facades with simple decorative brickwork and a large tile tableau in which the coat of arms of the municipality and the name of the electricity company are incorporated. The architecture of the building is connected to its setting, in that it is built into the hill and against the uneven terrain along which the mountain railway ran.

-Of urban planning value as part of the current plein Mooi Nederland, which is characterized by the escarpment, the division of the Rijksstraatweg and the Van Randwijckweg and several middle-class dwellings, shops and villa residences. The building plays a significant role in defining the townscape here, particularly in conjunction with the former ANWB information office on the opposite side.

-Of cultural-historical value due to the function connected with a technical development and as a reminder of the mountain railway that ran here in the first half of the twentieth century, and which is linked to tourism in this border region.