Nutsbedrijf, BY Industrieweg 100 Nijmegen

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

Large brick TRANSFORMER HOUSE on octagonal floor plan. This free-standing transformer was built in 1930, presumably designed by the Municipal Electricity Company Nijmegen (then Gemeente-Elektriciteitswerken). In the 1930s a series of transformers on octagonal floor plan were built in Nijmegen. Characteristic is the businesslike expressionist building style with sparing accents in the brickwork and the use of multiple colours of brick.

This transformer is located in the industrial area in the north-western corner of Nijmegen on the border with the municipality of Beuningen. The free-standing building stands on the north side of the Industrieweg at a short distance from the bridge over the Maas-Waalkanaal on the one hand and the Elektriciteitscentrale Gelderland on the other.

Description

The TRANSFORMER HOUSE has the floor plan of an irregular octagon (square with chamfered corners). The brick facades are constructed in two colours of brick and in multiple bond patterns. The facades are strongly articulated horizontally. The tall, tapering plinth of red brick is laid in vertical courses. Above the plinth yellow brick is used in Flemish bond. The facades are finished with a tall band of decorative brickwork in red brick (vertical toothed pattern). In the four long sides of the octagonal transformer are non-original doors. The octagonal hipped roof has a substantial overhang and is topped by a brick chimney with draw cap (ventilation duct). The chimney is furnished with several courses of laid brick. The roof is covered with obscured improved Dutch tiles and drains via a brick gutter.

Valuation

TRANSFORMER HOUSE from 1930.

- Of architectural historical value as a good example of a transformer from 1930 in a businesslike expressionist building style with an octagonal floor plan, modest brickwork accents, multiple colours of brick and a distinctive cap. The object has high aesthetic qualities owing to the distinctive main form, the particular colour and material use. Of this type, occurring exclusively in Nijmegen, this transformer is a large, virtually unaltered and early example.

- Of cultural historical value as a particular expression of a technical development, namely the history of electricity supply in Gelderland in which Nijmegen long led the way. - Of urban planning value as part of a historically developed industrial area, in which the transformer plays an image-defining role owing to its distinctive location at the bridge over the Maas-Waalkanaal. Moreover there is a visual relationship between the transformer and the nearby Elektriciteitscentrale Gelderland.