Rusthof

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

Complex component 2

The AULA and SERVICE BUILDINGS in Rational Expressionist style were built in 1929-1931 to the design of engineer C.B. van der Tak on the north-western side of the cemetery on the axis of a short access drive from the Dodeweg. The building volume on a U-shaped ground plan is composed of cubic volumes of varying size and height, covered by flat roofs and concrete canopies. The facades are constructed of grey brick in Flemish bond. The strictly symmetrically arranged building volume is dominated by the eighteen-metre-high central section of the aula. This centrally located main mass on a square ground plan has a lower and narrower projection on each side, creating a Greek cross as the ground plan. On the ground floor, at each corner of the facade, two fenêtres-à-terre, originally doors, of the aula are positioned slightly recessed beneath a canopy. Above these, in the angle between the aula wall and the projecting facade sections, tall, narrow, square brick strips have been inserted, original corner window units. On the rear side (cemetery side) there is a projecting portico with brick flower boxes beneath a canopy. Within the recessed portico, a double door has been placed. With the exception of the doors on the ground floor, the facades of the main mass are blank.

INTERIOR. The layout of the aula is likewise based on a Greek cross. The walls, stuccoed in the 1960s, are painted white. On the ground floor there are windows in the recessed corners and double doors in the side walls. A gallery balcony has been installed all around, which follows the shape of the Greek cross. The organ from 1966 has been placed on the south gallery. The organ and organ case are not of value from the perspective of monument conservation. On the north side. Galleries have been installed on the east and west sides. The closed parapet has a wooden handrail with wrought-iron fixing ornaments. In the centre there is a skylight with concrete grid and glass blocks.

The double doors in the side walls on the ground floor lead to secondary rooms, which serve as waiting areas. These secondary rooms also have a skylight with a concrete grid and glass blocks.

The main volume is connected to the service buildings on either side by means of a PERGOLA on the cemetery side and by low CONNECTING WINGS. The pergola consists of square brick pillars covered by a continuous concrete slab. Each wing contains three passages closed off by wrought-iron gates. The gates are composed of horizontal bars with circular rings placed between them at the height of the pivot stile.

The service buildings on an L-shaped ground plan consist of a cluster of slightly offset single-storey volumes under a flat roof. The right service building (west side) contains the porter's lodge and staff living quarters. Characteristic are the corner windows on the front and rear sides and a strip window in the long side facade. The left service building contains a condolence room. Here too a corner window unit on the front and rear sides and a strip window in the long side facade.

Assessment

The building complex is of general importance due to its funerary culture and architectural historical value as a characteristic example of an aula and service buildings with pergola and connecting wings in Rational Expressionist style built in 1929-1931 as part of a cemetery to the design of C.B. van der Tak, as well as as an example from his oeuvre. The building complex is also of ensemble value in spatial and functional coherence with the cemetery.