De Westerhelling

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 "De Westerhelling" with GATE PILLARS from 1912 designed by architect O. Leeuw (1866-1944). The freely executed building has the virtually symmetrical layout of a block-shaped brick villa with new historicist style influences, such as columns, balustrades, rusticated corner pilasters and a cornice. More contemporary are the applied window types and the flanking tower.

The detached building is situated at the edge of the wooded villa district Kwakkenberg in the far east of the municipality of Nijmegen near Berg en Dal. A large part of the Kwakkenberg came within the municipal boundaries of Nijmegen in 1915. The owner of these lands, J. van Houweninge, transferred the streets (some of which named after his daughters) to Nijmegen so that he could sell the lands for villa construction. Since then, many villas have been built on the Kwakkenberg designed by well-known (Nijmegen) architects. Two gates on the Sophiaweg provide access to a curved drive that leads to the front facade. One gate is placed obliquely near the intersection with the Postweg.

Description

Block-shaped VILLA of two storeys and an attic storey on a rectangular ground plan. Against the side facades of this main building are single-storey extensions with flat roofs and an octagonal tower with a spire. The ROOF of the main building consists of a flat roof with four hipped roofs. The hipped roofs have an indented eaves line, are covered with shingles (originally slates) and drain via gutters on worked brackets. Simple wooden roof dormers with multi-pane casement windows have been installed in the hips. The corners of the flat roof are marked by gilded finials.

The brick FACADES with light mortar joints are laid in stretcher bond and are articulated by rusticated corner pilasters. With the exception of the rear facade, the facades are irregularly arranged. The facade termination at the top consists of a simply profiled frieze and a gutter on worked brackets. Most of the recessed facade openings are rectangular in form and are closed by stone cills. The applied windows vary greatly in size and type: single-pane and T-sash windows with multi-pane fanlights, casement windows with two-part or multi-pane fanlight in single and coupled variants. The garden and balcony doors are double casement doors with glass in the high upper panels and two-part or multi-pane fanlights. The (leaking) sills are executed in hard stone. All shutters have been removed.

The irregularly arranged FRONT FACADE is five bays wide. In the central bay are the entrance porch and a storey loggia. The entrance consists of a projecting asymmetrical porch with terrazzo floor, small bench and arched panel door (glass with grille in the upper panel). Convex columns placed on pedestals support the partially arched roof of the porch. Two Ionic columns on pedestals are placed in the large rectangular opening of the loggia. A balustrade is placed between the pedestals. In the rear wall of the loggia is a large arched stairwell window with leaded glass. On the left side, between the four different windows, a finely sculptured commemorative stone is set in with the inscription: "DE / WESTERHELLING / 1912". On the right side are three different windows and a double garden door.

The RIGHT SIDE FACADE has a single-storey extension with two windows and a double garden door. The balcony is edged with a balustrade on which stand urns. The upper storey has a double balcony door and two windows. An octagonal tower adjoins the extension, which is partly built into the main building. The tower has rectangular windows (sash and casement windows with multi-pane fanlights) and a balcony door in the first and second storeys. The third storey of the tower has white plastered rectangular spandrels in which are arched eight-pane casement windows and an oval window with profiled frame. The compressed lantern projects above the main building and consists of a sheeted parapet and eight corner posts that support an angled spire. The spire is crowned by a wrought-iron cross. The LEFT SIDE FACADE has, in line with the kitchen, a single-storey extension with flat roof, two windows and a corner porch with service entrance. The dining room behind also has an extension with small leaded-glass windows, a door, a balcony with overhang on brackets and balcony rail with sawn flat balusters. The balcony is accessible via a double door under a fanlight. To the right of this, the upper storey has three different windows.

The symmetrically arranged REAR FACADE has at ground level in the centre a loggia with two Doric columns on pedestals and balustrades on either side. In the loggia are a terrazzo floor and a double garden door between two side windows. The fanlights of these are provided with coloured leaded glass. The columns bear two corbels that support a curved balcony. The balcony is edged with an ornamental wrought-iron rail. The double balcony door is flanked on either side by a narrow window. To the left and right of this central section is, on the ground floor, a wooden bay window on a masonry plinth, and on the upper storey a rectangular window with casement windows and an eight-pane fanlight.

The three-aisle SPATIAL LAYOUT consists essentially of a vestibule and hall together with stairwell in the central aisle; billiard room, garden room and intermediate room in the right aisle; service rooms and dining room in the left aisle. The upper storey was not inspected. A large number of INTERIOR ELEMENTS have been preserved in the building, such as parquet floors and panel doors; wainscoting with panels and beam ends in the billiard room and the hall; a white and red veined black marble fireplace mantel in which are two figurative tile pictures (Vermeer) in the hall; a turn staircase with worked handrail (motif: stylized flower stem) and stairwell window with coloured leaded glass (geometric patterns with fruit bowl); a built-out fireplace in the dining room; a stucco ceiling with central and corner pieces in the garden room; white marble floor, wainscoting and stuccoed basket-arch coffered ceiling in the vestibule. The brick GATE PILLARS of the gates on the Sophiaweg are laid in stretcher bond and have a cross-shaped ground plan. The profiled capping plates are crowned by spheres and are provided on the front with the inscription: "DE WESTER / HELLING.". The gate near the Postweg still has a wrought-iron double casement gate. The remaining fencing of the property boundary has been renewed.

Valuation

VILLA "De Westerhelling" with GATE PILLARS from 1912.

- Of architectural-historical value as a typologically good example of a block-shaped brick villa with new historicist style influences designed by Nijmegen architect O. Leeuw. The main form, the facade and interior layout have been well preserved. The detailing has been modified in some components. Remarkable is the flanking tower with spire. Furthermore, a large number of special interior elements have been retained.

- Of townscape value as a markedly situated component of the wooded villa district Kwakkenberg. Villa "De Westerhelling" marks the beginning of the development of a villa district on the Kwakkenberg.