Aerwinkel

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

In 1854-1856 CASTLE AERWINKEL was built on commission of Pierre Mathieu Geradts, president of the court of Hasselt (B), by P.J.H. Cuypers (1827-1921). He designed a castle in the neo-Gothic style, with pointed arches, turrets with arcaded openings, pilasters and crenellations, with which he succeeded in creating a 'medieval' silhouette. Around 1900 the castle was extended at the south corner with a conservatory with leaded glass in the windows. On either side of the central projection two square turrets were added to enlarge the sanitary spaces.

The building, constructed of dark red brick, stands on a virtually square floor plan divided into three aisles and consists of a basement, principal floor, first storey and attic. It is covered by a gabled roof running northeast-southwest over the central section. The side aisles lie under a catslide roof sloping onto the main roof. The roof surfaces are tiled, the roofs of the turrets with slate. The main entrance is in the northeast gable. This gable is symmetrical in layout. The central projection ends in a stepped gable with pilasters at the corners; the lower side sections are capped with crenellations with an arcaded turret halfway along and bundled piers, which contain the chimneys, at the corners. On both sides of the central projection are square turrets terminated with crenellations, in which narrow lights are located. In the central projection is the rounded arch entrance with fanlight and leaded glass, which is reached via a flight of steps in two runs with ashlar treads. In the central projection are (coat of arms) stones: above the front door a banner with 'Aedificata 1856', the coat of arms of Geradts with the motto 'Suum Quique Tribuere' on the left and that of Cuypers with the motto 'Credo Spero Amo' on the right. In the gable top the Geradts coat of arms. The first storey of the projection has a large rounded arch window. Between the first storey and the attic runs a brick plinth course, interrupted by pilaster strips on a corbel, which continues across all facades. The three windows of the attic storey each lie in a field enclosed by a plinth course. The southwest side or rear facade faces the farmstead. The view of the farmstead is concealed by a substantial group of trees. The layout of the facade is as follows. Against the middle section, which like the front facade ends in a stepped gable with pinnacles at the corners, is placed over two storeys a five-sided projection, closed off with a masonry balustrade; the lower side sections are capped with crenellations with an arcaded turret halfway along (the small tower spires have disappeared) and bundled piers containing the chimneys at the corners. Access on this side is via a flight of steps in three runs. The access door and windows of the principal floor are closed with a round arch. On the storey the windows are provided with a straight finish. Door and windows are provided with glazing bars. Between the first storey and the attic runs, also over the five-sided projection, the aforementioned plinth course. The door and windows on the attic storey that open onto the balcony of the five-sided projection are set in a pointed arch. Against the south side of the castle is a conservatory with wooden frames and leaded glass in the fanlights. The base of the conservatory is executed in half-timbering with brick filling. Large segment arch-shaped basement lights. The left (southeast) and right (northwest) side facades are very similar. Both facades are three bays wide. On the principal floor are rounded arch windows, on the storey rectangular windows with glazing bars. The middle section ends with a stepped gable with corner turrets (disappeared on the left side facade). The middle section is set in a large pointed arch-shaped panel. In the left side facade is the servants' entrance to the basement. The masonry was polychromed by Cuypers on the outside with a fine render coat of a purplish-red colour. In the courses of the rounded arches traces of an ochre-yellow finish can still be found.

The layout and original finish of the interior have been fairly well preserved, despite the various functions the castle has had. The basement is the section where the staff stayed. It contained the kitchens and storage cellars. This section is accessible in two ways: from outside via a staircase in the left side facade and from inside via a staircase behind the main staircase. Most of the cellars have a barrel vault as a ceiling structure. Remarkable is the vaulting of the middle cellar. The masonry barrel vault ends as an apse with a finish in a groin vault. Light enters by means of vaulted segments, the horseshoe-shaped cut of which stands transversely across the vault like a roof light. In the wine cellar which is located under the hall are masonry compartments for wine storage. In the scullery which is accessible from outside, a cast iron column supports an iron beam which otherwise rests on moulded corbels. On the principal floor are the monumental hall with staircase, salon, reception room, living room and dining room. The decoration of the different rooms reflects the importance of the function they represent. Via the front door with leaded glass one enters the octagonal entrance. From there an axial view is possible via the hall and dining room to the outside. The entrance hall is vaulted with a beam ceiling that is supported on heraldic corbels. For reasons of symmetry four low and two tall doors are placed here. The doors on the left and right sides lead respectively to a consultation room (now office) and the salon. In the hall behind it is the staircase going up. This consists of a flight with curved steps in one run which after the landing splits. The flight has steps that gradually curve from concave to convex. At the level of the landing is a niche in which originally a Ceres statue stood. The walls of the hall on the first storey served as a portrait gallery. The staircase is lit by a cupola with leaded glass. Behind the staircase runs a curved corridor with the staircase to the basement. The salon to the right of the entrance hall has retained part of its original decoration. The painted coffered ceiling is decorated in the fields with Gothic quatrefoils in which blank coats of arms are included. The windows are provided with hinged shutters. Remarkable is the wainscoting of pressed asbestos with flower motifs. The corner fireplace is of dark ashlar, decorated with fluted corbels. The double opening door section to the adjoining reception room is decorated with raised panels.

The large reception room, used as a chapel by the Sisters at the time, has the same ceiling and wainscoting as the salon. Two doors with raised panels symmetrically placed in the long wall provide access to the entrance hall and the dining room in the axis of the house. The dining room, fitted with a black marble fireplace, is closed off with a simple ceiling with thin, moulded beams. The door to the outside has a semicircular fanlight. The doors are provided with 'ordinary' panels. To the left of the dining room is the living room, the ceiling of which is formed by heavy beams on moulded corbels. Around 1900 a conservatory was built onto the living room, from which there is a fine view of the surrounding parkland landscape with pond and tree screens. The conservatory is provided with leaded glass in the upper windows with stained glass birds. The former consultation room, now office, to the left of the entrance hall has a heavy beam layer on corbels, like the living room. White marble fireplace with small columns. On the storey are the bedrooms, dressing rooms, bathrooms and library. The library is in the central axis of the house. Bookcases, panelling, fireplace and mirror are executed in neo-Renaissance style.

Valuation

CASTLE AERWINKEL is of general importance:

- because of the architectural design in neo-Gothic style

- because of the original floor plan and layout

- because of the finish of a number of interiors

- as an early example of the work of P.J.H. Cuypers

- because of its location in a contemporaneous landscaped park

- because of the functional-spatial relationship with the other components of the country estate.