Het Slotje

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

VILLA "Het Slotje", built in 1907-1908 as a country residence for Jonkheer Meester E.F.M. van Rijckevorsel van Kessel after a design by architect W. Hoffmann. The curious design of this asymmetrically constructed villa is difficult to place within a single architectural style. In the design, historicising and modern style features are applied side by side; an ambiguous form of transitional architecture with remarkable added elements such as buttresses, crenellations and decorative spire turrets with gargoyles that give the northern part of the building in particular a castle-like character.

The building is located in the Nijmegen-West district, and is situated on the east side of the Neerbosscheweg near the intersection with the Energieweg. In the original situation, neither of these roads existed, and the building lay in the middle of a large estate between the villages of Neerbosch and Hees. The north side of the building is marked on the original building plan as the front facade: front facing the former Dorpsstraat. Through the development of the post-war residential districts Heseveld and Neerbosch-Oost, the industrial area Oostkanaaldijk and the Neerbosscheweg, the estate was severed and almost entirely lost. The villa now has an isolated but for the motorised passer-by a distinctive location. The west facade parallel to the Neerbosscheweg - which contains the main entrance - now serves as the front facade.

Description

Fully basementted VILLA of two storeys and an attic storey on a composite floor plan. The building volume has an asymmetrical layout. On the south side a single-storey service wing with balcony is built out (originally kitchen and shed, now office and toilet block). The narrow terrace on this side has recently been enclosed and covered (original exterior wall still intact). Continuing from this, there is also a terrace on the north side. Against the east facade a stair and lift shaft has been built. This modern addition falls outside the protection. The original exterior wall with roughcast chimney and crenellations has been left as intact as possible.

The composite ROOF consists of a hipped roof (street side) and a gabled roof (rear side) which are projected at right angles to each other. The hipped roof has the ridge direction parallel to the street and is provided with various roof cappings at the location of roof dormers and gable tops. The ridge ends are marked by substantial chimneys. The roof is covered with scale-shaped slate. Rainwater drainage takes place on the south side via a projecting tile gutter on cut corbels, and on the north side via a gutter which is concealed behind a parapet wall with crenellations and gargoyles. The parapet wall is provided at the corners with two decorative (wedge-)turrets with gargoyle and constrained spire. The gabled roof on the rear side is closed by a higher built-up gable top with chimney. This roof is covered with scale-shaped slate and drains via a tile gutter which is laid on the roughcast facade. The roof dormers are executed in timber: simple flat-roofed examples in the gabled roof and more richly executed examples with roof cappings in the hipped roof. The FACADES are built up in a cream-coloured wire-cut brick and mortared in Flemish bond. The basement wall mortared in red brick is provided with a large number of cellar lights and is closed by a hardstone drip moulding. At the top, the facades are closed by a built-up band or parapet wall with crenellations. All facades have an asymmetrical layout. The window arrangement on the entrance side is irregular. On the other sides there are window axes. The majority of the facade openings are rectangular in form and are closed by a relieving arch or dog-tooth moulding. The windows vary greatly in type and dimensions. The single variant predominantly has a casement or sliding lower sash and a multi-paned fanlight with leaded glass. The larger composite variant has single-paned lower sashes and multi-paned fanlights with leaded glass. The windows, as well as the French doors to the north and south sides, are provided with shutters (mostly executed as venetian blinds). A large number of elements are executed in hardstone, such as stair treads, door frame moulding, sill strips, drip mouldings and cornices, plinths, corbels and gargoyles. The main entrance is architecturally strongly emphasised, also through the projecting tower on the upper storey. The entrance consists of a hardstone plinth with shoe scrapers and mailboxes; an arched door with geometric motifs and window with grille; arched sidelights; a wooden canopy; a three-part round-arch fanlight. The hardstone frame is worked. Above the entrance a hardstone plate is mortared with two coats of arms and a crown. The partially projecting tower rests on an arch. The octagonal tower is provided with crenellations and a mortared band with recessed panels. The tower spire is covered with slate and is crowned by a wrought-iron weathervane. The tower is flanked on the right side by a gable top with stepped spout and a small octagonal bell turret. The SPATIAL LAYOUT of the ground floor is still largely intact. The vestibule leads straight to the former hall (now restaurant). The hall is connected via a double sliding door to the dining room. The hall and dining room have access respectively on the north and south sides to a terrace. The vestibule is flanked on the left side by the former living room (now bar) and on the right side by a cross corridor and cloakroom. The cloakroom and the adjoining office are now combined into one room. At the rear of the cross corridor are the staircase and the entrances to the former service rooms (now office and toilet block). A number of original INTERIOR ELEMENTS are preserved in the building, such as brick chimney breasts (glazed stone in various colours) with marble tops; stucco ceilings with moulded cornices; white marble floor in the vestibule and parquet floors in the living rooms; wooden wainscoting; sliding doors and panelled doors with worked frames; a bifurcated staircase with carved newel.

Valuation

VILLA "Het Slotje" from 1907-1908.

- Of architectural historical value as a typologically good and recognisable example of a substantial country residence from the early twentieth century. The building stands out for its distinctive design in transitional architecture, in combination with many building elements that reference a castle. The use of materials is rich and exceptional. The interior of particularly the ground floor is largely intact. The building is of particular importance for the oeuvre of architect W. Hoffmann. - Of urban planning value because of its situation, linked with the development of the village and later the urban district of Neerbosch. The villa recalls the former estate at Neerbosch and is in the current situation a distinctive landmark, particularly for the motorised passer-by. The villa forms a striking point of reference at the edge of Nijmegen.