Woonhuis, Kronenburgersingel 223

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

Two TOWNHOUSES with GARDEN FENCE, part of a residential block, built in 1897 in transitional architecture with the front facade in Neo-Renaissance style. Characteristic of this are the rendered ashlar bands that divide the front facade horizontally as well as classical elements such as block and dentil friezes, diamond-headed bosses, consoles beneath the gutter and guttae beneath the sandstone drip mouldings of the windows. The front facades of both houses, which were presumably designed by architect D. Semmelink, each have three window bays and are characterized by a projecting central bay with a wooden oriel and a top gable finish. The bel-étage is separated from the upper storey by a cordon moulding with drip moulding. The basement is fitted with a sandstone plinth, in the roof screen of the flat roof dormers are present. A garden fence with spikes and finials on the railings separates the short front garden from the road. The rear facade is executed simply and features above the conservatory and built-out kitchen, per storey, four decorative bands executed in yellow facing brick which are interrupted by the windows and rendered chimneys.

The residences located on a building line, closed terrace of dwellings are situated westerly opposite the Kronenburgerpark in the centre of Nijmegen. The Kronenburgersingel lies in the urban expansion of Nijmegen developed from 1879 onwards and falls within the part of the city centre of Nijmegen protected by the State since 1980.

Description

The houses, constructed in brick (Flemish bond), possess a traditional rectangular floor plan, whereby the ground floor is provided with a three-sided oriel and the rear is built out with a kitchen. The spatial arrangement of the identically designed houses (it being noted that property 225 is in a more original condition), is two-aisled (three window bays) and mirror-symmetrical with respect to each other. The slightly projecting central aisle terminated by a spout gable with oriel and balcony above, is flanked by an entrance accessible via a low flight of steps and an aisle in which above a cellar door occurring in the basement, per storey a window is located. The roof screen at no. 225 is covered with slates in Dutch bond; property no. 223 has shingles as roof covering.

The FRONT FACADE possesses at the location of the basement and in the basement of the oriel at the front two and on the sides one, executed as a sash light, cellar light.

The wooden oriel rests on a breastwork fitted with recessed panels upon which the finely worked stiles rest. The window at the front of the oriel is executed as a tilt window beneath three semicircular-ended leaded glass lights. The side windows are single-paned and are situated beneath coupled and semicircular-ended leaded glass lights. In a decorative strip above the fanlights of sawtooth motif-furnished semicircular arches are located. In contrast to the left property (no. 223), the wooden balcony railing above the oriel of the right dwelling is original. It consists of turned railings which are placed radially from the centre. They are set in square openings by columns and a ledge of the breastwork. A three-part window adjoins the balcony with in the middle a glazed balcony door flanked by sidelights with a calf provided with a block moulding. The fanlights at property no. 225 are all provided with lambrekyn-patterns with a sawn edge. The arched fields terminated by a segmental arch of these window frames each have tile tableaux on which in a cartouche amidst foliage scrolls on the left the initials 'JHM' and on the right the date '1897' are executed. The segmental arch is equipped with rendered intermediate, springing and closing stones. The gable top is occupied by a window with on either side a narrow window beneath a block frieze interrupted by narrow wall ribs. Above the central window is a semicircular-ended field the closing stone of which forms the console of the diagonally placed pinnacle which is built out into the gable finish and bears a ball ornament. The slanted sides of the spout gable provided with raised sections on the shoulders are accompanied by a rising rendered frieze.

The aisles flanking the central aisle are almost identical to each other except for the basement and the bel-étage. In the basement there is a glazed door which is accessible via a flight of steps. The bel-étage contains the glazed panelled door with door grille beneath a calf with block frieze. The fanlight is terminated by a sawtooth frieze. The windows terminated by a straight arch with sash frames on the upper storey are identical and (only at no. 225) both provided with lambrekyn-patterns as discussed in the three-part window in front of the balcony. The dormers on either side of the spout gables possess a pointed roof covered with slates provided with a roof ornament (only at 225). The covering of property no. 223 consists of zinc. Against the LEFT and RIGHT SIDE FACADES the adjoining properties are built. The REAR FACADE possesses in the basement a number of sash lights beneath an iron I-beam (H-section) on which the conservatory rests. The rear facade of the conservatory's executed in wood (worked) possess besides double garden doors on both sides one and two windows with fanlights. Small carved brackets support the gutter of the balcony above the conservatory which is screened with a wooden slatted railing. Double balcony doors and sidelights with fanlights adjoin this. In the corner there is also a glazed clamped door. Only at no. 223 is the facade extended over the full height and there is also a window with modern frame and entirely above a small toilet window beneath a lintel. The top storey contains three T-sash windows beneath one and a half brick lintel, which at no. 223 have been altered to modern tilt windows. Only property 225 possesses behind the kitchen a flat-roofed extension with rendered plinth, with in the facade perpendicular to the rear facade a clamped (modern) door and modern stairs. The door frame rests on sandstone corbels and threshold, beneath a lintel. The window in the facade which is parallel to the rear facade contains a tilt window beneath a lintel and blinds.

The SPATIAL ARRANGEMENT is identical in both dwellings and is determined by a passage with stairwell in the left and right aisle respectively. The INTERIOR possesses in both dwellings special components, it being noted that in dwelling no. 223 some things are concealed from view by plywood coverings such as stucco ceilings, panelled doors and chimney mantels. After the vestibule doors with frosted glass, follows a passage which extends to the rear facade and is provided with marble tiles and ornamented stucco ceiling. The quarter-turn staircase is equipped with a finely worked newel and turned balusters. The side aisle contains the room en suite (with double sliding panelled doors) with the oriel at the front and behind the conservatory which is accessible via glazed sliding doors. The basement has barrel vaults.

The front garden is separated from the road by a FENCE with spikes and finials on the railings.

Valuation

Two TOWNHOUSES with GARDEN FENCE and part of a residential block, built in 1897 in transitional architecture.

- Of architectural-historical value as a well-preserved example of two attached townhouses, built in the urban expansion of Nijmegen in a building style influenced by the Neo-Renaissance which is typical of part of the development around the Singels in Nijmegen. The properties stand out for their richly detailed and mirror-symmetrical front facades and for the special tile tableaux in the arched fields above the upper storey windows. The dwellings have retained their characteristic building volume, architecture, decoration and material use well and are also largely original in the interior.

- Of urban-planning value within the part of the city centre of Nijmegen protected by the State and because of the situation of the property at the edge of the Kronenburgerpark, where in combination with the existing green landscape and the fencing it forms a picturesque whole.

- Of cultural-historical value as a recognizable element from a social development. The property was built as accommodation 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 which became possible with the removal of the fortification works at the end of the 19th century.