Kantoorgebouw, Straatweg 2 A

English translation

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Description

Introduction

OFFICE BUILDING together with LABORATORY, situated parallel to the Straatweg, designed in 1936 in Cubistic style with details in Expressionist style by architect W. Wijmstra. The client was ACF, a chemical concern which produced, among other things, quinine for medicines. The laboratory was located in the large space on the upper floor.

The originally L-shaped building was extended on the left side in 1955 in the same style and with the same materials. This resulted in a U-shaped floor plan.

Description

The office building, situated parallel to the Straatweg, is erected above a travertine plinth in reddish-brown brickwork with recessed jointing laid in stretcher bond. The building comprises two storeys on an L-shaped floor plan under a flat roof with bold overhang. The façades are generally provided with steel window frames with horizontal glazing bars and casement and side-hung windows. The windows have natural stone sills.

The front façade or south-west façade has in the first storey from left to right two twelve-pane windows, a sixteen-pane window, a sixteen-pane window and a twenty-pane window, separated by a wall division, furthermore a twenty-four-pane window and two twelve-pane windows, separated by a wall division. The second storey contains two large window sections on either side of a twelve-pane window, which on both sides is surrounded by projecting brick elements, resting on concrete lintels. On these vertical ornamental iron flagpoles are mounted. This façade section was originally the middle of the building, which was extended on the left in 1955. The south-east façade or right side façade contains in the first storey the main entrance, consisting of a double wooden panelled door with vertical window provided with ironwork in meander form. The doors are placed in a shallow porch with semicircular wall divisions under a concrete slab. On either side a large window is placed with below it a built-in brick planter. The second storey has two sixteen-pane windows.

The rear façade or north-east façade contains on the left three horizontal strip windows and on the upper floor two windows. The recessed façade section is almost blind with the exception of an entrance at the far left, situated in a steel and glass porch. At the far right a door is placed with to the right of it in both storeys a window. The projecting extension on the right, from 1955, contains a number of small windows and in the second storey two horizontal strip windows.

The left side façade from 1955 has in the first storey an eight-pane window to ground level and a smaller window on the left. On the first upper floor an emergency door with stair is applied and on the left a small window.

The interior arrangement consists of a corridor with office rooms on either side. In a number of places these are separated by steel partition walls provided with glass panels. The hall is separated by hinged doors with stylized chrome fittings. To the right of the middle of the building is the stairwell with a staircase with granite steps and wooden handrails. The upper floor contains a large hall to the left of the stairwell. On the right a steel and glass light dome is applied in the corridor.

Valuation

The building is of general importance because of the cultural and architectural historical value as an intact preserved example of an office building together with laboratory in business Cubistic style with corresponding material usage. Also because of the situational value in relation to its location along the Straatweg.