Coromote

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 to complex component 1

The DWELLING HOUSE (1) of the country house type, main component of the Coromote complex, in New Historicising style, is inspired by Dutch Classicism with influence of English country house style and built in 1924 according to design by The Hague architect S. de Clerq. In the rear facade a foundation stone is set into the wall bearing the text: "Hugo Alexander / Loudon / .1-XI-1924".

In line with the then prevailing interest and fashion for furnishing period rooms, the very richly decorated interior contains a number of period rooms in various Neo-styles, using much historical material. Characteristic is the interest in the Golden Age, whereby in the historicising interior various 'antique' historical elements are incorporated, such as the gilt leather, 16th- and 17th-century painted leaded glass panels and 17th- and 18th-century paintings.

Alterations of subordinate importance, which took place in the period 1926-1928 under the direction of the local contractor/architect G.J. Verboog, concerned among other things the addition of a service room. As evidenced by the presence of shutters were the windows originally provided with shutters.

Since the 1960s the country house has been in use as the residence of the ambassador of Venezuela.

Description

Freestanding symmetrically arranged rectangular building mass, which is partially cellared, consists of two storeys under a hipped roof with red (English) slate tiles. Heavy chimneys in English style stand on the four roof ridge corners. The roof dormers covered by a gabled roof extension have one or more pairs of opening two-light windows. The side walls are clad with slate tiles. The trasraam of red facing bricks is covered by a set on edge roller course. Above this the facades are built up in a hard grey hand-moulded stone (Utrecht format) in Flemish bond. The windows are topped with stretches and have red baked roof tiles with drip moulding. The single and composite window arrangements are provided with glazing bars, partly executed as cloister or cross windows in 17th-century style. All facade ends and the projecting sections have blocked corner pilasters to imitate rustication. Under the wooden gutter executed as a main frame with guttae blocks (guttae) is a decorative frieze.

The symmetrically arranged front facade (north-west) has a centre projection crowned by a triangular pediment in which the entrance is situated, accentuated by a balcony above. Entrance area, centre projection and facade ends are terminated by corner pilasters. A granite stoep consisting of three semicircular steps leads to a double teak wooden door. Above the stile, provided with carved leaf motifs, is a semicircular fanlight with radial glazing bars. The natural stone door surround consists of a moulded semicircular surround, flanked by pilasters with recessed fields and guttae. The balcony rests on heavy consoles and has a wrought balustrade executed with finely detailed scrollwork. Of the tripartite door arrangement of the balcony the door and stile are executed in the form of a mirror arch. The centre section of the centre projection is flanked on the ground floor and first floor by cloister windows. On the ground floor the windows are secured with decorative grilles in Neo-Rococo style. The triangular pediment above the centre projection has in the middle a round oeil-de-boeuf, provided with a pivot window with glazing bars, within a natural stone surround. On either side of the centre projection the facade has one window.

The right side facade (south-west) has on the ground floor on the right one window and on the left a rectangular projecting bay with balcony, provided with a decoratively laid masonry balustrade with openwork. The large window arrangements in front and right side facade have steel frames with glazing bars. On the first floor on the left on the balcony is a double opening balcony window with mirror arch stile and on the right one window.

The symmetrically arranged rear facade (south-east) has a similar facade arrangement as the front facade. In front of the centre projection is a natural stone semicircular balcony, supported by slender Ionic columns with above it the light brought through by a mirror arch-shaped fanlight. Under the balcony a rectangular natural stone plate is set into the wall with a figurative representation in high relief. To the right of the flight of steps is a foundation stone. On some pillars of the flight of steps stand 17th-century natural stone ornamental vases with flowers and shield-bearing lions. On either side of the centre projection a pseudo cross window is placed in the facade, flanked by a narrow window. To the north-east a garden wall adjoins the rear facade, topped with a half-hipped roof. Approximately halfway this wall is broken through by a semicircular passage under a raised laid half-hipped roof. To the left of this is a fountain in a semicircular spare field. In front of the rear facade lies a laid terrace (see component 4).

Against the left side facade (north-east) stands a rectangular single-storey extension with a flat roof with on the right a small rectangular extension. The two side facades have a pilaster arrangement which connects to the pillars of the balcony above. The south-eastern side facade has in both bays a round window.

The front facade of the extension (north-east) has on the left two windows with on the right a composite door arrangement with fanlights under a concrete lintel. The small extension has two windows. On the first floor of the main building on the left is an assembly of chimney stacks, which partly protrude through the roof eaves. On the right in the facade a window is placed in the facade. Between extension and garage runs a garden wall in a north-western direction, which has a passage halfway. The garden wall covered with a half-hipped roof has by way of accentuation of the wall termination a coping with a spherical natural stone ornament.

INTERIOR. In the virtually unaltered interior, with various period rooms, much historical building material is incorporated. With the Old Dutch style rooms the cloister and cross windows with oak wood and decorative wrought iron fittings in 17th-century style, the window sills are provided with radiator boxes and partly with benches. Most rooms on the ground floor have strip parquet. A number of ceilings is executed with a heavy beam and joist structure. 16th- and 17th-century painted leaded glass panels occur in the windows of among others the dining room, the library, the stair hall and the draught-proof doors between draught-proof hall and hall. The doors on the ground floor have, in accordance with the style of the room in question, mostly heavy panels.

Draught-proof hall, long corridor and stairwell are executed in Old Dutch Neo-17th-century style. The double draught-proof doors have leaded glass panels with painted panes. Dark brown oak wood, provided with carved detail and ebonized decoration is applied for the panelled wall covering and the doors, which have a Composite pilaster arrangement and a corniced main frame. In the draught-proof hall and corridor stand on the capitals a total of twelve brown painted terracotta figures (apostles) from the middle of the 18th century in the style of South Netherlandish sculptor Walter Pompe. Distributed over both long sides are six mid-18th-century tile tableaux with biblical representations within a surround with tortoiseshell tiles. Of these, three are incorporated on the south-western side in the wall covering above a fixed bench with ventilator boxes. The remaining tile tableaux have Arcadian representations, which can be attributed to the Rotterdam tile factory Aelmis. On the other long side (north-east) is a black marble fireplace with surround from the third quarter of the 17th century placed. Above a mirror panel is within a (Neo-)surround from the building period of the house a grisaille with putti (signed 'J(acob) de Wit') from circa 1775.

At the end of the corridor is a wooden staircase with landing, of which the Mannerist stair balusters are executed in apparent perspective. Around the stairwell a coffered wall covering is applied, which is terminated at the underside by a frieze with in total seventeen historical, presumably 17th-century coat of arms shields with name and helmet badge. The large stair light has a mirror arch-shaped termination. Under the landing of the staircase is on the garden side a small rectangular plant room above a sandstone plinth paved with small white tiles, some 18th-century tiles and a small fountain. On the floor are Winkelmann tiles.

The library, executed in Old Dutch style, has high panelled wall covering and doors with cassette pattern. The oak wall covering consists of panels with geometric pattern and a corniced main frame, all executed with carved detail and provided with ebonized details.

On the south-western side two built-in bookcases with fluted Corinthian pilasters are incorporated. Similar detailing also occurs in the door surround of the door to the living room. Above the wall covering gilt leather wallpaper is applied with two different motifs (Southern Netherlands; c. 1725-1745;). The leaded glass windows are executed with painted representations, of which the oldest date from the middle of the 16th century, averaging four per window. The heavy rectangular fireplace surround is borne by reddish-brown veined marble columns. The wooden covering of the fireplace surround has a pilaster arrangement with columns, provided with gilded Corinthian capitals. In the frieze of the main frame above the text 'anno/in mei/1621' is incorporated in inlay. Below are in three bays semicircular 17th-century painted panels with allegorical female figures. Under the fireplace beam hangs a 17th-century tapestry as chimney panel. Central on the rear wall of the fireplace is a 17th-century tile tableau, representing 'Sea battle between the Lord Admiral de Ruyter and Prince Robert of the County, d'Estrée at Kijkduin & de Helder on 21 April 1673'. Further 18th-century manganese tiles, among other things with foliate motif and landscapes.

The dining room has low wall covering with fluted half-columns and window sills in which radiator boxes are incorporated.

The fireplace of clean brickwork has an oak wooden surround and upper section from the building period of the house, in which 17th- and 18th-century reliefs with carved detail are incorporated, including a walnut mirror frame. In the round painting a representation of two bathing female figures. In the three heavy panel doors are incorporated among other things historical reliefs, including peacocks. The leaded glass windows are enlivened with eight coloured shields with family coats of arms.

The 18th-century main room in Régence style has parquet with geometric diamond pattern, stucco ceiling with raised diamond pattern in Neo-style, painted low wall covering, in which radiator boxes are incorporated. The painted wooden overdoor panels and the blue-grey veined marble fireplaces probably date from circa 1780. Sliding doors provide access to the conservatory.

The vestibule with black/white marble tile floor has half-height oak wall covering with as coat racks 17th-century incised reliefs.

The kitchen, service and scullery room and the service stairwell have retained their original character with for example the original tiling and fixed (display) cabinets and granite sink top. Also a service lift is preserved.

The first floor is more soberly executed with white plastered walls and stucco ceilings with various patterns (egg-and-dart, guttae). Here too various historical building elements are applied, such as the fireplace in the bedroom, which has a 17th-century incised surround and a rear wall with Delft blue tiles. Bathroom with Delft blue tiles from the building period of the house with biblical scenes. The door to the service wings is presumably 18th-century, provided with wrought work.

Evaluation

The country house 'Coromote' dating from 1924 is of general importance due to its cultural and architectural historical value:

- as the main component of the complex of the same name with associated components and terrace arrangement;

- due to the New Historicising building style, inspired by Dutch Classicism with influence of the English country house style whereby historical building elements and artworks from the 16th to 18th centuries are incorporated;

- as a representative example of the building work of The Hague architect S. de Clerq;

- the country house is in a high degree unaltered in main form, material use and detailing, both as regards the exterior and interior;

- due to the unaltered preserved interior executed in various neo-styles typical of the early 20th century.

The country house furthermore has a high ensemble value due to the spatial, functional and stylistic coherence with the other complex components, terrace arrangement and garden walls.