Woonhuis, Balistraat 135 A

English translation

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Description

Introduction

Closed residential block (II) with recessed corners and shared courtyards, component of the HOUSING COMPLEX De Arbeiderswoning, containing 40 maisonettes. It is executed in the manner of Rationalism according to design by H.P. Berlage (1856-1934) from 1911-1915, who introduced the two surrounding cross streets for better sunlight. Description

The residential block is virtually identical to residential block III. The closed residential block is constructed in brick (English bond) with four storeys on an approximately rectangular plan with recessed corners at the ends under a hipped roof covered with red improved hollow tile between end gables. The long facades count 24 window bays and are marked by 3 bay window sections and decorative brickwork. The roof pitches are equipped with gutters and contain several roof windows. The end gables are crowned by a chimney. The entrances are closed off above by a roller shutter and projecting decorative brickwork. At the level of the first floor, beneath the staircase bay, there is a segmental arched window with two coupled casement windows. On both sides of the window, a stepped console of the bay adjoins, which from the second floor transitions from a rectangular ground plan into a five-sided projection with diagonally placed casements. The windows coupled per floor contain, with the exception of the upper floor, a lower window with vertical glazing bars. On both sides of the staircases there are three window bays, two with sash windows and one, the one closest by, with narrow casement windows, below which are fanlights executed as horizontal pivot windows. The windows are mutually connected by a double decorative moulding of roughly worked stones that continues across the entire block. At the location of the staircase this is however interrupted by the fact that here the windows are placed halfway across the floor height. All windows have roller shutters and rest on built-up window sills, with the exception of the windows on the ground floor which rest on natural stone sills. The facade furthermore has a horizontal window closed off by a roller shutter and is terminated above by an uninterrupted cornice with small natural stone consoles above a decorative moulding with block tooth frieze.

The northern and southern end gables, furnished with built-up shoulders, are oriented towards the through streets Javastraat and Balistraat and both count three window bays of the previously described two window types.

The short gables differ insofar from the long facades, in that they have three window bays with sash windows. The ground floor has on the north side (Javaplein) to the left of the staircase a door with an arched fanlight. The door is relieved by a brick segmental arch.

The end gables are executed as solid walls.

Valuation

The middle residential block (II) of the complex De Arbeiderswoning from 1911-1915 is of general interest because of cultural-historical and architectural and typological value as a characteristic example of a rationalist block of workers' dwellings with shared courtyard, designed according to the ideas of architect H.P. Berlage with attention to good orientation and dwelling plans and as an early example of corporate housing legislation construction. Furthermore the residential block has ensemble value because of the architectural, historical-functional and urban planning relationship with the two other residential blocks of the complex.