Woonhuis, Prins Bernhardstraat 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

Row of four TOWNHOUSES with FENCES, built in 1909 to the design of architect F. Ludewig with stylistic influences from Dutch Neo-Renaissance. The facade design of the entire row is arranged in a more or less mirror-symmetrical composition according to the schema a/b/b/a. The two-aisle houses each have an asymmetrical layout individually with considerable variation in detailing and ornamentation between them. The row of four townhouses forms a large part of the connected western facade of Prins Bernhardstraat, between the Oranjesingel and the Bijleveldsingel, and therefore constitutes part of the so-called "19th-century belt" of Nijmegen. This urban expansion with canals from the period 1880-1920 is protected as a townscape.

The separation of the front gardens by wrought-iron FENCES is characteristic of this area.

Description

Row of four cellared TOWNHOUSES with three storeys and flat roof. The third storey is furnished at the front with a continuous roof edge that is bounded at the far left and right by a stepped gable. This steep roof edge is covered with red improved Dutch tiles and drains via a gutter on worked wooden consoles. The gutter cornice is interrupted by four large gabled roofs (one per house) and two small Flemish gables (numbers 4 and 6). Behind the large gabled roofs are concealed roof extensions covered with tiles. Instead of a Flemish gable, numbers 2 and 8 have a wooden dormer with flat roof. The FRONT FACADE of the four houses together is arranged in mirror-symmetrical composition according to the schema a/b/b/a. The bay window with the balcony of number 4 breaks the symmetry as the only element and is presumably not original. The houses are two-aisle and each have an individually asymmetrical front facade: one aisle with the entrance portico and one aisle with bay windows and terminating gable. The brick facade with tuff stone is laid in cross-bond. The horizontal articulation consists of three courses of white plasterwork at the level respectively of the water table in the first and second storeys and the upper lintels in the second storey. Most of the recessed facade openings are rectangular in form. The window frames are set flush in the facade and fitted with moulded cornices and corresponding water tables. The (sash and casement) windows have a weather moulding and in some cases still have transparent leaded glass. The fanlights have glazing bar division and/or are fitted with coloured leaded glass.

- In the first storey, numbers 2;2a and 8 each have a wide and straight-closed entrance portico with cornice, and a wide wooden bay window with flat roof. Numbers 4 and 6 both have in one aisle a narrower entrance portico with arched fanlight and plastered moulding with dentilation and a flanking window with two-part leaded glass fanlight. In the other aisle is situated beneath a lintel an internal bay window that does not project beyond the facade line (number 6). The bay window of number 4 is presumably not original. The original panelled doors have glass in the upper panel.

- In the second storey, numbers 2;2a and 8 each have above the entrance an arch-closed loggia with wrought-iron fence and panelled door between multi-light side and fanlights. In the other aisle of these houses are two windows with two-part fanlight. The fanlight has six-light windows. The lower windows are connected to each other by a small two-sided bay window. This bay window rests on projecting brickwork and is closed off by a two-sided small roof. Numbers 4 and 6 both have above the entrance a three-sided wooden bay window with flat roof. These bay windows also rest on projecting brickwork. In the other aisle of these houses are two windows with two-part fanlights that are connected to each other by a two-sided bay window (compare numbers 2;2a and 8). At number 4 the bay window has been replaced by a balcony door.

- In the third storey all four houses have a large gabled roof. The gables of numbers 2;2a and 8 are executed as stepped gables with a composite window. The gables of numbers 4 and 6 are executed with shoulders and a flared top. These gables are fitted with brick weaving, roundels with heart motifs and two coupled windows with fanlights. The flanking Flemish gables have a similar window and are closed arch-wise. The much more soberly executed REAR FACADE is laid in cross-bond and is horizontally articulated by roll courses. At the top the facade is closed off by a gutter resting on worked wooden consoles. Most of the recessed facade openings consist of single or coupled windows with fanlights, and double balcony and garden doors with side and fanlights. The composition of the rear facade is symmetrical. The houses have a brick extension rising over three or two storeys with flat roof, and an extended conservatory with covered balcony. The style, braces and railings of the balconies are worked. Some windows and doors in the rear facade have been altered. Furthermore the balcony of number 6 has been glazed over. Moreover some single-storey extensions are not original. The SPATIAL ARRANGEMENT of the two-aisle houses consists in main outline of circulation spaces (vestibule, corridors, stairs) in one aisle and living rooms (interconnected rooms, bedrooms) in the other aisle. Prins Bernhardstraat 8 was not visited. In the other houses a large number of original INTERIOR ELEMENTS have been preserved, such as panelled doors with inserted and worked frame stiles; sliding doors between the interconnected rooms and the conservatory; wooden (stoop) stair with turned balusters, worked newel post, moulded handrail and light dome with leaded glass; flat stucco ceilings with a geometric composition: broad bands with grooves, narrow mouldings and rosettes in the form of rectangles, diamonds, circles, quatrefoils); parquet and terrazzo floors; natural stone fireplace mantels.

The front gardens are separated by wrought-iron RAILINGS. The fences are an assembly of rectangles (two rows and two uprights, filled with woven wire) fixed between uprights with curved ends. The fences are placed on a mortared wall with roll course.

Valuation

Row of TOWNHOUSES with FENCES from ca. 1910.

- Of architectural-historical value as a good and intact example in composition and detailing of a row of townhouses with stylistic influences from Dutch Neo-Renaissance. The object stands out through high-quality aesthetic qualities, such as the varied use of materials, the rich and alternating ornamentation. The interiors have been well preserved in main outline (number 8 was not visited). The row of townhouses is a representative work of architect F. Ludewig.

- Of urban-planning value as part of the so-called "19th-century belt" of Nijmegen protected as a townscape. Characteristic elements of this urban expansion (1880-1920), such as connected facade walls with alternating bay windows, balconies, gables, dormers and front gardens with railings, are also present in this row of four townhouses.