Woonhuis, Groesbeekseweg 14

English translation

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Description

Introduction

Row of seven TOWNHOUSES, built in 1895 as a single project designed by architect W.J. Maurits in neo-Renaissance style. Maurits played a major role in residential architecture during Nijmegen's urban expansion around the turn of the century. He designed not only grand villas and townhouses on the ringroads, but also a large complex of workers' housing between the ringroad buildings.

This block of houses is situated in the 19th-century perimeter of Nijmegen, near the central Keizer Karelplein. This urban expansion with ringroad buildings from the period 1880-1920 is protected as a townscape. The object forms part of the continuous western street facade of the Groesbeekseweg and is situated at the corner with the Pontanusstraat. The block is separated from the public road by a shallow front garden. The original wrought-iron railings, which are so characteristic of this area, have been removed.

Description

TOWNHOUSES with three storeys above a basement.

The third storey has a flat ROOF and on the street sides a hipped roof with slate in Maas-bond. In some places the original roof covering has been replaced with shingles. The elongated hipped roof is interrupted halfway (at the location of Groesbeekseweg 20) by a higher-pitched hipped roof. In the middle of this hipped roof is a large dormer window with pediment. On either side of it, the houses numbered 16;18 and 22;24 each have three wooden dormers: one large dormer with two-sided pitched roof and overhang between two smaller variants without overhang. At the ends of the house block, the houses Groesbeekseweg 14 and Pontanusstraat 2 have in the middle a large brick dormer with steps and a diagonal top pilaster, and on either side a small wooden dormer of the described type. The framing of the dormer windows consists of (simply) carved pilasters and curved side pieces. The various dormers emphasise both the individual houses in the row and the symmetrical design of the block as a whole. The elongated FACADE on the Groesbeekseweg has an almost symmetrical arrangement. The brick facade is laid in bond and has strong horizontal articulation. This horizontal facade articulation consists of a banded rendered grey plinth; white-painted drip mouldings and band courses; decorative bands of black and yellow brick; a finishing cornice on consoles. The openings in the facade are rectangular in form: casement windows in the plinth (basement) and large single-pane sash windows on the first and second storeys. The relieving arch above the sash windows is executed in several variants: blind segmental arches (nos. 14, 20 and 2), arched courses and checkwork (nos. 16;18 and 22;24). The arches and courses are provided with voussoirs and keystones with diamond-shaped heads in white render. The day sides of the windows are also provided with corner blocks in white render. The spandrels under some segmental arches are filled with a cartouche and branches in white render. All houses have a regular arrangement of three window bays: a wide aisle with two window bays (interconnected rooms) and a narrow aisle with the entrance (hallway). The identical entrances have a tall panelled door with glass in the tall centre and square upper panels. The centre panels are provided with wrought-iron grilles. The front door of number 14 has been renewed. The fanlights consist of a round leaded glass window set within an aedicula of white render. The common stone entrance steps of Groesbeekseweg 20;22 have been altered.

The CORNER BUILDING Pontanusstraat 2 has the same facade arrangement, articulation, detailing and material use as the described facade on the Groesbeekseweg. The chamfered corner is designed as a tower extending over three storeys. This square corner tower is crowned by a four-sided spire with overhang and wrought-iron decorative finial. The second-storey balcony railing has been renewed. The soberly executed REAR FACADE is horizontally articulated by bands of yellow brick. The (arched) courses and segmental arches above the sash windows are provided with imitation voussoirs and keystones in yellow brick. The drip mouldings are executed in stone. In the extension of the narrow aisle, the houses have on the rear side an extension over three storeys. These extensions are flanked by wooden conservatories in the extension of the interconnected rooms. The SPATIAL LAYOUT of the two-aisle houses consists essentially of a narrow aisle with hallways and stairs and a wide aisle with interconnected rooms and bedrooms. Alterations to the interiors have taken place in parts for office functions and/or bedsit occupation. In some rooms original INTERIOR ELEMENTS have been preserved, such as ornamented stucco ceilings (laurel-wreath mouldings, centre and corner sections with floral and leaf motifs), sliding doors, marble mantelpieces and the same floor finishes in the hallway.

Valuation

Row of seven TOWNHOUSES from 1895.

- Of architectural-historical value as a typologically good example of a row of two-aisle townhouses from 1895, designed as a single project in neo-Renaissance style. The reasonably well-preserved exterior stands out for its rich ornamentation and exceptional use of colour and materials. The almost symmetrical arrangement of the house block as a whole is also characteristic, combined with architectural emphasis in parts of the individual houses. The object is a good example of the work of architect W.J. Maurits, and is representative of his more prominent residential architecture on the ringroads in Nijmegen. - Of cultural-historical value as a recognisable element of social development. The block was built as housing for the new and wealthy urban elite, who preferred to settle in substantial townhouses in the newly-laid-out streets around the old city; an urban expansion that became possible with the removal of the fortifications at the end of the 19th century.

- Of urban design value as an essential and prominently situated component of the so-called 19th-century perimeter of Nijmegen, protected as a townscape. Characteristic elements of the ringroad buildings in this urban expansion, such as continuous street facades with balconies, dormers, towers and shallow front gardens, are also present in this property.