Woonhuis, Sophiaweg 123

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

Description

Double COUNTRY HOUSE of two storeys and attic storey on a composite ground plan. The building block consists of two mirrored dwellings linked by garages. The dwellings and the lower intermediate section of the garages have slightly angular gabled roofs with overhang. The roofs have the ridge direction parallel to the street, are covered with red improved Dutch tiles and drain via zinc gutters. Approximately in the middle of both dwellings a brickwork chimney protrudes through the ridge. In the front elevation of the intermediate section, in the location of the (storage) space above the garage of number 123, a modern tilting roof window has been installed.

The flat FACADES are constructed in yellowish brick with some missfired bricks and laid in Flemish bond with recessed jointing. The arrangement of the facades is unforced. Most of the openings are rectangular in form and are closed by a brickwork stretcher, blind corbel arch or natural stone lintel. The window sills are brickwork. The substantial door sills are executed in natural stone. There is great variety in window types and dimensions. The frames, sash windows with glazing bars, as well as the terrace and balcony doors are executed in steel. All other doors are executed in wood.

At the front the entrance arrangements of the dwellings and garages attract attention. The two-part front door with small window, wrought-iron grille and side lights is housed in an archway-closed entrance porch. The letterbox and a substantial corner block on the chamfered side of the porch are executed in sandstone. The flanking kitchen windows are the only windows in the dwellings with shutters. Broad corbel arches open into the front spaces of the garages. These contain a two-part wooden kitchen door and a sliding three-part garage door. Chamfered bricks have been placed at the corners.

The composite windows at the rear (south side) have a large format with wall mullions. In line with the sitting room is a terrace with diagonally placed and tapering buttresses. The original corbel arch construction with brickwork balcony balustrade is still intact at number 123 and at number 125 has been replaced by an iron section beam and corresponding railing. To provide light, the terrace walls are painted white. SPATIAL ARRANGEMENT of the dwellings. On the ground floor the central hall is completely enclosed: on the street side by the kitchen and the vestibule together with cloakroom with toilet; on either side by the sitting room and the garage; on the rear side by the dining room. The room behind the garage is accessible from the dining room. The part of the hall, vestibule and kitchen is under-cellared (respectively for storage, fuel and central heating). On the upper floor and attic are the bedrooms and a bathroom. The (storage) space above the garage is accessible from the dwelling. The INTERIORS are soberly executed. Particularly in the dwelling Sophiaweg 123 the original interior elements have been preserved, such as panelled doors, a staircase, tiled and parquet floors, a brickwork fireplace in the sitting room, windowsills of green glazed tiles.

Valuation

Double COUNTRY HOUSE from 1934-1936.

- Of architectural historical value as a typologically good and relatively rare example of a double country house built in traditionalist style from 1934-1936. This is a representative work by architect C.M. van Moorsel Pzn. (1892-1962). Sobriety or simplicity is an important theme in dwelling house architecture of the nineteen thirties and is in this object 'translated' into a craftsmanly traditionalist idiom, referring to the Dutch tradition of brickwork: natural building materials, emphasis on structurally important elements, particular attention to entrance arrangements, distinctive roof form, compelling ground plan. The object, apart from some small alterations to components, has been preserved intact in terms of main form, facade and interior arrangement.

- Of urban planning value because of the distinctive location in a strongly undulating and wooded area on the border of the municipalities of Groesbeek and Nijmegen, where the object forms part of a building pattern consisting of scattered substantial dwellings in various architectural styles. The object is a good example of a design that has been adapted in form and orientation to the landscape setting.