Schoolgebouw, Postjesweg 1

English translation

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Description

Introduction

School building erected 1921-1923 for the former 4th vocational school, with adjoining grounds, built on commission of the Public Works Department to a design by architect A.J. Westerman in the style of the Amsterdam School on a kite-shaped plot at the Postjesweg and surrounded on two sides by the Kostverlorenvaart. The facades are decorated with works by sculptor Hildo Krop. During the 1955 renovation, part of the courtyard was built over with classrooms and canteen. The school is now named 'ROC Zadkine', Vocational School for Goldsmiths and Watch Technology'. Above the main entrance marked 'Vocational School for Goldsmiths'.

Description

School building on a five-sided and symmetrical ground plan with basement, ground floor and two or three storeys under a combination of composite gabled roof with slates and flat roofs. On the front side (NE) an additional storey with the former museum room. On this side the staff rooms, director's room and central stairwell. The classrooms are arranged around an (originally open) courtyard around a circulating corridor. Brick facades in Flemish bond or decorative brickwork. Further alternating and decorative use of natural stone. The facades with continuous window series and cornice lines are strongly horizontally articulated, which is further emphasised by the fine partly horizontal articulation of the windows. Windows in various designs with strongly emphasised horizontal and vertical glazing bar divisions. The front facade (NE) comprising eight bays has a concavely curved building line and central entrance with wide double door with sheet-iron cladding and with wrought-iron ornamental ironwork and grille work with wave motifs; flanking sculptural work in tufa stone with references to the original trades of the vocational school and to the sea voyages of the historical admirals after whom the surrounding streets are named; furthermore a male and female figure with among others city coat of arms and the text 'without effort nothing'. Side entrances on both sides with double doors and fanlights with ornamental wrought-iron grille work. Above these semicircular brick oriel windows on sculpted corbels with balcony and simple access door. Besides the windows on either side of the main entrance, on each storey there is a series of five coupled glazing bar windows. The vertical accent of the oriel windows is continued with narrow windows and with structure with wrought-iron flagstaff holders on broad chimneys. Perpendicular to the concave facade there are two virtually identical side facades on the north and SE side of the building. The facades have on the left and right side a section with blind wall work and with two windows placed on the corner. The central section is ten bays wide and has glazing bar articulated windows in various sizes. On the ground floor the sills are strongly bevelled and the windows have smaller lower windows with side lights. On the left and right side on the second storey a recessed section with higher structure with hoist opening. Further cornice line and figurative sculptural work and straight gable end with simple gutter line. The west and SW facade forms one unit and borders entirely on water. The transition is rounded; the connection with the remaining side facades proceeds by means of two rounded brick gable sections on hemispherical corbels. At the top between these roundings a structure with figurative sculptural work. On the left and right side gable sections with blind wall work and with small windows and with three-sided oriel window on the second storey above which structure with flagstaff holder. Beside this there is a brick parapet. The entire facade comprises fifteen bays with glazing bar articulated windows in various designs. The basement windows are partly trellised and have three-light articulated side lights. Above the basement the windows have a smaller lower window with side lights. Between the window series there are cornice lines with decorative brickwork between them. The angled roof edge is interrupted by a continuous series of windows. Above this a simple gutter line and a single three-sided dormer and single higher window at the extreme left and right sides. Facades on the courtyard side with glazing bar articulated windows in various designs and with stair with landing and with tall and broad stairwell window for lighting the stairwell. Central hall with stairwell with stair with granite steps and yellow tiled risers. The wooden handrail against the low stair walls that rise along it is original. At the base of the stair there is an ornamental and partly wrought-iron decoration on a black natural stone block. Many of the dividing doors in the corridors are original. The staircases at the rear are also original. In a single case there remains the pulley for bringing in long pieces of timber for technical instruction.

Valuation

Former fourth vocational school on remarkable five-sided ground plan of general importance by reason of its cultural and architectural historical and typological value as a largely well-preserved example of a municipal school building for vocational education in the characteristic yet richly executed Amsterdam School style for its period of construction. Of art historical value by reason of the application of sculptural work by Hildo Krop. Of urban planning value and of situational importance by reason of its more than prominent position in relation to the surrounding roads and waterways.