Park Voorn

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 of component 1: MAIN HOUSE

Introduction

The main house was built in 1873 in eclectic style. Construction took place 23 years after the medieval castle was demolished. It is located in the extreme southwest corner of the estate and in its architecture is oriented towards the Leidsche Rijn and the Rijksstraatweg.

Description

FACADES

Detached building on rectangular floor plan, with basement and two (tall) storeys and raised central projection. Flat roof. The facades are entirely rendered. The front facade (east facade) has a central projection of two bays and is heightened with a mezzanine storey. On either side of the central projection are building sections one bay wide. The left section, facing the Leidsche Rijn, has a rounded corner bay spanning both storeys with a matching continuous balcony. The facade parallel to the Leidsche Rijn (south facade) is three bays wide, with a lightly projecting central bay with blind niches with scratched-in lozenge motifs. The north facade is likewise three bays wide with a lightly projecting central bay in which the projecting entrance is situated, above it a balcony. The west facade has, like the east facade, a central projection with an additional storey. The facades have a natural stone plinth. The projecting part of the front facade, as well as the corners, are emphasised with pilasters. These pilasters are executed on the ground floor with rustication and on the upper storey with recessed profile. The storeys are separated by a moulded band and the entire facade is concluded with a frieze with recessed panels, consoles emphasising the pilasters and a moulded cornice. Above the cornice the front facade has an additional band, above the central projection and the rounded corner bay executed in the form of balusters between corner blocks and above the two other building sections executed as a rendered frieze with applied panels. The T-windows have rendered, moulded, rectangular frames and stone lintels. The frames of the windows in the central projection of the front facade, in the rounded corner bay and of the entrance have a segmental arch termination. Within the frame of each window a segmental arch decoration is provided.

INTERIOR

The basement runs largely beneath the entire building and has barrel vaults. The floor plan is arranged with the rooms situated around a monumental staircase with a grand staircase. On the ground floor an entrance vestibule is connected to a square, monumental hall around which the rooms and the staircase are located. The hall is appointed with pilasters (with stylised Corinthian capitals) which support a continuous cornice. The decoration consists among other things of wooden wainscoting and a marble floor. The rooms around the hall have among other things stucco ceilings with moulded bands and ornaments, articulation of the wall by pilasters (the rounded corner bay), moulded frames for both windows and doors, shutters, double doors with applied motifs and a built-in cupboard with richly decorated wooden doors. A remarkable detail is the fireplace beneath the window in the rounded corner which shows affinity with the so-called Utrecht fireplace. On the north side are rooms that were fitted out as a kitchen and scullery. Elements such as the fireplace and cupboards are still present. The upper storey likewise has a spacious landing with pilasters, cornices and other moulded bands along the ceiling, stucco decorations and consoles. On the east side lies the elongated living room with the rounded corner with circular, double-opening French windows. The fireplace is in its original location, but has been altered in its decoration. The ceilings are in part still ornamented with stucco elements. Ceilings with stucco ornaments are found in various places, among other things in the staircase. The staircase has on the first floor a large stained-glass window from 1939 with coats of arms and images of the ruin. The uppermost storey (at the location of the central projection) has been used among other things as a drying loft, as evidenced by the presence of the drying rods.

Valuation

The MAIN HOUSE is of general interest because of:

- its architectural-historical value as a good example of a country house built in eclectic style;

- the relatively high degree of integrity of both the exterior and interior (layout and finish);

- its visually defining location with respect to the Leidsche Rijn/Rijksstraatweg;

- its relationship with the other components.