Woonhuis, Mercatorplein 1 1

English translation

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Description

Introduction

RESIDENTIAL BLOCK with WORKERS' HOUSING and SHOPS on the south-west side of Mercatorplein, part of the Mercatorplein complex.

Description

Residential block on a ground plan composed of rectangles and linked in an L-shaped configuration, adjoining on the south and west sides of Mercatorplein. In the SW the gatehouse with tall tower forms the connection between both main wings. On the south side of the square is a U-shaped building block with nearly identical transverse arms or side wings on Hoofdweg and Van Spilbergenstraat. Facade on Mercatorplein with four storeys and eight bays wide side wings - together with two prismatic (two-sided) projecting oriels - with five storeys under flat roof. Facades laid in red brick on dark tuffstone frame and plinth with rough-hewn blocks of natural stone and with sections in reinforced concrete with coarse finish layer. Facades on Hoofdweg, Mercatorplein and Van Spilbergenstraat with respectively three, seven and one prismatically projecting oriel over three or four storeys and including these oriels respectively with 15, 21 and 10 bays. The oriels on the square side have windows on both sides and sash windows, the windows on the street sides have predominantly double casement windows. Entrances in porches under heavy shallow canopies. Windows with double casement windows or articulated sash windows or five-light articulated wide window groups and small square windows. On Mercatorplein there is a gallery with heavy masonry pillars on natural stone basement and at the corners bevelled top in reinforced concrete with coarse plaster layer and with meander and figurative architectural sculpture on the left corner. Adjoining and recessed series of shops with fronts with four fanlights and entrance doors. The gatehouse has a high truncated carriageway opening with lower pedestrian gates on both sides and with tall storey with three-sided oriel on front and back, under transverse and steep gabled roof with blue-grey tiles and with low, three bays wide roof dormer. To the right the eight-storey high tower and narrow upper structure under flat roofs with simple windows on the lower side and large square or paired narrow or three-fold articulated windows in the upper structure. On the rear side a narrower section of the tower rises higher with three small balconies on both sides in the recesses. Vertical emphasis in the brickwork on the corners. In the carriageway opening are several window openings. On the west side of the square is an elongated building block under flat roofs with higher and recessed central section with facades in tan brick and five storeys, flanked by projecting building section in red brick with four storeys. Far left a lower building volume under gabled roof with tiles forms the connection with the gatehouse; far right is higher and articulated corner building. The projecting sections have a gallery with shops and three two-sided oriels over three storeys with windows on both sides. Further figurative architectural sculpture on the corners above the gallery. The nine bays wide central section has shops on the ground floor under wide canopies and dwellings with linked balconies on three storeys with balcony doors and windows and railings with two-sided projecting accent. Fifth storey with two-light and six-sided windows. Above the canopy is (originally) structural glass for lighting the shop spaces. To the right the higher and set back relative to the square, but projecting relative to Jan Evertsenstraat corner building with square 'tower' of six storeys under flat roof and with in total four two-sided projecting oriels with windows and with gallery on heavy pillars on natural stone basements with top in reinforced concrete with coarse plaster layer. Decorative brickwork on the bevelled corners and in the frieze below the gable termination. Lower three-sided building volume in the recess on the square side and extremely shallow volume over five storeys and with four narrow windows on the transition with the adjoining building on Jan Evertsenstraat. Further small two-light windows below the gable termination. Hoisting eyes with double and curled metal elements for decoration.

Valuation

South-west square building with workers' housing, shops and gatehouse after a design by H.P. Berlage from the 1920s of general importance due to cultural and architectural-historical value, as well as due to typological and ensemble value as a character-defining and essential component of the Mercatorplein complex.