v.m. Twentsche Bank

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

Introduction

The BANK BUILDING of the former Twentsche Bank situated on the south side of the Blaak, together with its associated transformer house, was built in 1950 by A.J. van der Steur in collaboration with W.A.C. Herman de Groot, B. Hooijkaas and B. van Veen. The bank building, designed by B. Hooijkaas, was damaged during the bombing in May 1940. Until the Second World War, the Blaak was one of Rotterdam's largest inland harbours. During the war, the Blaak was filled in with rubble from the bombing. During the reconstruction of Rotterdam, it was decided to divide the centre of Rotterdam into various sectors. The financial sector was concentrated on the Blaak and the southern part of the Coolsingel. Banks and insurance companies were the only institutions that had sufficient funds to rapidly rebuild the destroyed buildings without government support. In addition to the Twentsche Bank, the Nederlandse Handelsmaatschappij (Blaak 32-34) and the Incassobank (Blaak 40) were also quickly realised. These three buildings were constructed according to the principles established after the war and together form an ensemble. They form a unified monumental frontage because they are positioned on a single building line, have the same building height (24 m.) and are colour-coordinated with each other. Furthermore, all three buildings were constructed in a traditionalist style. The former Twentsche Bank is the left building. Following the merger in 1964 with the Nederlandse Handelsmaatschappij to form the Algemene Bank Nederland (ABN), the two buildings at the level of the third storey were connected by a sky bridge. In the early 1980s, the building underwent extensive renovation, during which, among other things, the two original light courts, which had a glazed roof above the first storey, were merged from ground level into one large light court. In addition, an additional storey with a glazed roof covering was created. The exterior has been well preserved except for the window profiles. The original steel profiles have been replaced by aluminium. In the interior, the main structure is still intact and in the cellar the safes, a marble wall and a bronze door are still present. Many artworks that were applied, such as the stained-glass windows in the dining room by E. Warffemius, the windows in the securities hall by A. Canta, the wall paintings by F.G. Jacobs and Schuyl, the symbolic wooden reliefs by A. Hank Hans and the railwork on the staircase by K. Gellings, have disappeared over the years. The building was provided with advanced technical installations for the time, such as central heating and air ventilation. These installations were also operated from the transformer house located behind the building. The transformer house, given its original functional and architectural connection, forms part of the building. The transformer house currently houses 2 garage boxes. The building is now in use as a notary and law office.

Description

Exterior: The bank building, counting twenty window bays with a rectangular floor plan, had to express strength and security. The result was a bank building constructed in a traditional building style of solid and restrained character, defined by its taut and businesslike facades set within a concrete structure. The building is provided with polished concrete plinths and an equally high ground storey. All facades are constructed in dark red hand-moulded brick. The application of polished concrete was innovative, as it demonstrated that it was possible to polish concrete on a vertical plane. The windows on the ground floor of the front facade are provided with finely designed ornamental railwork. The flat roof is covered with pumice concrete channel slabs on wood wool cement boards. In the rear facade, round openings closed with steel have been installed. These openings are framed with polished concrete stone. In the left side facade, narrow windows in the centre of the facade are flanked by ornamental brickwork. There is also a service entrance in this facade. In the right side facade are several balconies with an open-work concrete balustrade and an authentic goods entrance can be found. The asymmetrically positioned main entrance in the front facade is reached via a staircase of Norwegian granite. The entrance door is executed in bronze and is located behind a wrought-iron gate. Above the entrance is a stylised coat of arms of Amsterdam (since 1861 the location of the Twentsche Bankvereniging) and the coats of arms of Enschede and London (both places played an important role in the history of the Twentsche Bank). Above this is the city coat of arms of Rotterdam. The whole is crowned by the 'Twentse Ros', a sculpture by C. van Kralingen and symbols for the sea (fish) and trade (bale).

Interior: The building has a cellar, an entresol, three office storeys up to the cornice and a fourth storey. Originally, this storey contained a caretaker's residence. The storeys are accessed by lifts and service stairs. In the southeast and southwest corners of the rear facade, two bell towers have been constructed. Some lifts are housed in these. At the rear of the building is a bicycle storage area. In the interior, the main structure is still recognizable and the heavy safes in the cellars are still present. Characteristic of reconstruction architecture is the application of monumental art. The Twentsche Bank was also richly provided with this. However, in the interior, there possibly still remains a three-light window with stained glass designed by H. van Kesteren that was located in the director's office. This would now be located on the east facade of the light court.

The transformer house, which, given its original functional and architectural connection, forms part of the building, is also constructed with dark red hand-moulded brick and is provided with natural stone plinths. The frames, corner finishes and roof edges are executed in polished concrete. The roof and the canopy on the west side are covered with green copper. There is also a ventilation grille.

Valuation

The BANK BUILDING of the Twentsche Bank with its associated transformer house is

- of high urban planning value because of its relationship with the Amsterdamse Bank and the Nederlandsche Handelsmaatschappij. Together they form an ensemble;

- Of significance as an expression of economic history and the history of Rotterdam;

- Of cultural historical value because of the presence of monumental art, such as sculpture and railwork;

- Of significance because of the application of polished concrete stone;

- Of significance because of the application of hand-moulded brick;

- Of significance in the oeuvre of architect A.J. van der Steur;

- Of significance in the oeuvre of artist C. van Kralingen.