P.L. Kramerbrug

English translation

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Description

Introduction

Fixed BRIDGE over the Amstelkanaal (no. 400, the 'P.L. Kramerbrug') with two small houses alongside the Amstelkanaal for the GEB and the 'Beplantingen' department of the Department of Public Works, built according to a design by P.L. Kramer from 1917. In 1921 the construction was completed. The traffic bridge lies on the radial route that leads from the south along the Amstel to the city centre. In addition, the bridge is an important connection between Berlage's Plan Zuid and the old city. The construction of this fixed bridge was - as usual with Kramer's bridges - designed by the Bridge Department of the Department of Public Works. The sculptural work, executed by Hildo Krop, references the sea, to which the city owed its prosperity, and to the history of the city. Marine animals such as seals and sea-dogs and poleworns are depicted. The history of the city is represented by the figure of Gijsbrecht van Amstel and the Cog ship. The ironwork of the balustrade appears to be inspired by the waves of water and the rigging of ships. The architectural design of the bridge is in the style of the Amsterdam School.

Description

Bridge 400 is a fixed beam bridge with three navigable spans (respectively 4, 10 and 4 metres), the structure executed in steel and concrete, the architectural design in brickwork (cross-bond) and wrought iron, and the sculptural work in granite. On the Amstel side, the mortared breastworks provided with courses, whose brickwork continues in the quay walls at the ends with semi-circular projections, for a good view over the river. The undulating edge of the semi-circular projection merges into the relief of a seal. The breastwork between the seal and the wrought iron balustrade has granite blocks in the course. On the outside of the semi-circular balconies, a heavy, simple wooden fence is attached. On the through landheads and piers, to which the balustrade is hung, reliefs of poleworkers and seals. The wrought iron balustrades between the through piers suggest a flow of forces in the horizontals and verticals, whereby the bottom edge appears to be hung from the top edge. The flow of forces from the balustrade to the roadway runs through decoratively open-worked wrought iron figures. The patterns are undulating and toothed. The wing walls on the side of the Amstelkanaal are treated in the same way as the quay walls on the Amstel side.

The small houses have a hexagonal plan with toothed brickwork at the corners and headers in decorative bond, partly in relief. The cement roof cap runs over the edge with lobes at the corners in three layers. Under the header brickwork, partly in relief, are located heavy frames with angled upper dormer windows and simple, undulating iron grilles. The tops of the small houses have an ornament in the style of the Amsterdam School. Against the small houses, a decorative wrought iron fence has been placed.

Evaluation

The P.L. Kramerbrug, named after the designer, with associated bridge keeper's houses from 1921, is of general interest due to cultural and architectural-historical value as a characteristic example of an expressionistically designed traffic object from the early twentieth century, as well as due to the rich sculptural work by Hildo Krop and the traffic-technical significance in Berlage's Plan Zuid of Amsterdam. The bridge is also of importance as a defining visual element in the series of connections over the Amstelkanaal and Amstel and due to stylistic coherence with the surrounding residential blocks. The bridge is intact in main form and in components.