Woonhuis, Sint Josephstraat 7

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.

A double TOWNHOUSE situated in the building line of the St. Josephstraat, on a rectangular plot with a tapered rear side. The facades are virtually free-standing. To the left facade (number 9) adjoins a wall with a carriage entrance of the adjoining property. Along the right facade (number 7) runs a driveway to a coach house originally connected to the residential house (now separated), internally renovated and falling outside the protection. Both houses have a rear courtyard with a small ornamental garden.

The houses, built around 1880, were erected in Neo-Renaissance style. Rear facade of number 9 at the kitchen slightly altered. Doors and windows, particularly in the roof slopes, partly simplified. Interior only partially modernised in parts.

Description.

The partially cellared brick buildings each occupy a rectangular floor plan and comprise two storeys and an attic storey under a gently sloping hipped roof with slopes clad in slate with Maas-bond laying and finished with continuous ridge mouldings. On the side slopes per house four slender chimneys with projecting heads and centrally in the front slope a roof dormer with aedicula motif furnished with a segmental pediment crowned with decorative finial. On either side oeil-de-boeuf attic windows with pediments. Continuous, moulded and corniced gutter with a valley gutter between the dormers.

The facades of the two houses, built with machine-made brick in cross-bond, are very slightly offset from each other at the street side. With each building, the symmetrical, five-bay wide cornice-topped facade is enlivened with lime-stone courses, drip mouldings and a belt course. Gutter on the front facade on blocks with diamond heads below which volute-shaped consoles. Between the consoles tooth moulding resting on projecting moulded stones. Below a stepped ashlar plinth with bossed and chiselled panels in the breast wall. Arched window openings with ashlar corner and end stones. Two-light sash windows. Slightly projecting central bay with on the ground floor pilasters furnished with diamond heads and casements on either side of a single-glazed panelled door with pseudo-needle and ornamental ironwork grille. On the floor above a balcony with balustrade railing. Day edges and arch with ashlar surround. Rear facade with loggia over two bays, finished with delicate lobed wooden stile and rail work (upper part) and railing with carved balusters. Partly T-windows with ashlar sills. Side facades executed more soberly with partly corresponding detailing. Rendered moulding below the gutter. Left facade with on the upper storeys a projecting bay at the location of the stairwell with oculus. Right facade likewise with oculus. The floor plan layout of both houses is virtually mirror-symmetrical. Along a central passage running through to the rear facade with draught vestibule lie on one side two en-suite rooms with an adjoining conservatory overlooking the rear courtyard and on the other side on either side of the stairwell the kitchen and one or more rooms. On the upper floors various (bed)rooms, the balcony and the attic.

Of the interiors the following are of particular note: cellars with barrel vaults on profile irons and yellow tiles; hall with white marble flooring, likewise panelling and sills; stairwell with dog-leg staircase with decoratively carved (initial) balusters, pilasters with figurative representations, etched glass and marble window sills on the landings; landings with diagonal relieving stones, living spaces with green/black marble fireplaces and folding window shutters; furthermore throughout the entire house very rich, partly polychrome stucco ceilings with floral and figurative representations and stucco work (egg-and-dart) mouldings and panelled doors with moulded framework. Only in number 7: partly stained glass windows in the conservatory; floor set with black/white tiles and specimen cabinets in the former kitchen; parquet flooring of various wood species in the living room. Only in number 9: decoratively carved quarter-round seating areas beneath the windows on the street side and original (but simplified) doors to the conservatory.

Valuation.

The double townhouse is of general importance. The object has cultural-historical values due to the importance of the virtually mirror-symmetrical floor plan layout and appearance for the typological development of double townhouses. The object has architectural-historical value due to the aesthetic qualities of the design and the qualitative, careful and detailed ornamentation in exterior and interior. The object has ensemble values as a characteristic component of the historic building stock on the St. Josephstraat, which was rebuilt in the context of urban infill in the second half of the nineteenth century. Furthermore, the object is of importance due to the architectural integrity of the exterior and the numerous preserved components of the rich interior.