De Varenhof

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 Varenhof", built in 1849 following a fire, commissioned by the painter Guillaume Anne van der Brugghen. Of the burnt-down house only the cellar was preserved. The white-rendered villa has an almost symmetrical layout with central risalit and gently sloping gabled roofs with overhang. This appearance and its setting in a wooded environment against a high escarpment give the property the character of a Swiss chalet.

Villa "De Varenhof" is situated on the eastern edge of the built-up area of Nijmegen, near the border with the municipality of Berg en Dal. The detached property stands at the foot of the escarpment and faces broadly toward the Ooypolder which begins immediately on the other side of the Ubbergseweg. G.A. van der Brugghen had a painter's studio on the upper storey with two large windows providing a wide view over the polder.

The garage at the rear of the house falls outside the protection.

Description

VILLA of two storeys and low attic on an almost rectangular ground plan. The building volume consists of a tall central section with risalit on the front elevation and two lower side wings. The central section and side wings each have a gently sloping gabled roof. The gabled roof of the central section has its ridge perpendicular to the front facade (street side). The roofs of the side wings are projected at right angles to this. The roofs are covered in bitumen and drain via gutters. The roof overhangs rest on projecting rafter-ends, are edged with wind braces and are crowned at the ridge by an akroterie (palmette motif).

The white-rendered FACADES have a string-course at the level of the floor between storeys. Facade ornaments are not applied. The facade openings are predominantly rectangular in form. The majority of the windows have four-pane casement windows. The taller windows on the ground floor, the upper storey of the central section and the added upper storey on the store room at the rear all also have a two-pane fanlight. The left and right side facades each have a double glass door in design matching this window type. With the exception of the rear, all windows and glass doors are provided with venetian blinds. The symmetrically arranged front facade is six window axes wide. The gable head of the two window axes broad central risalit bears the inscription: "DE VARENHOF". The side facades are two window axes wide. The main entrance is located in the left side facade. The double panelled door and the fanlight with geometric glazing bar division are set in a frame with quarter-round corner profile. Above the fanlight is a gently sloping canopy. In the rear facade are located at the position of the hall and staircase two large round-arched windows (iron glazing bars in a small-pane pattern). Against the rear facade is attached a two-storey extension. The store room on the ground floor has an entrance and a small round-arched window. The later-added upper storey under a continued roof slope has three six-pane windows and a modified entrance.

The SPATIAL ARRANGEMENT of the elongated property consists of three living rooms in a row on the front, circulation spaces (vestibule combined with cloakroom, corridor combined with staircase and hall) and a kitchen at the rear. The cellar is located beneath the living room at the left front. The bedrooms and the former painter's studio are situated on the upper storey. The principal rooms are positioned on the front for light access and views. A large number of original INTERIOR ELEMENTS have been preserved in the property, such as panelled doors set in moulded frames with cornices; folding shutters for the windows; tiled and parquet floors; a spiral staircase with central post, cast-iron balusters and moulded handrail with curled ends; a natural stone fireplace with hearth plaque (St. George and the Dragon) and wooden benches in the hall; cellar with barrel vault.

Valuation

VILLA "De Varenhof" from 1849.

- Of architectural-historical value as a typologically good and well-preserved example of a dwelling house from the mid-19th century whose external appearance is inspired by the Swiss chalet. The property is also a good example of a dwelling house with an elongated ground plan, whereby the principal living rooms are situated on the front and the circulation spaces at the rear. The service and living rooms are as far as possible separated from each other. Furthermore, the property is of importance because of the preserved original interior elements. - Of urban planning value because of its striking and for the Netherlands relatively rare location against a considerable slope; in this case the tree-covered eastern flank of the Nijmegen escarpment with a wide view over the Ooypolder.

- Of cultural-historical value as the former residence and studio of the painter Guillaume Anne van der Brugghen. The high upper storey with large windows at the position of the central risalit results from the destination as a painter's studio.