Opstandingskerk (Kolenkit)

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 PARSONAGE of the Dutch Reformed Opstandingskerk belongs to the complex DUTCH REFORMED OPSTANDINGSKERK WITH STAIRS AND PARSONAGE, which was created as a total design. The Opstandingskerk, nicknamed the 'Coal Scuttle', is a church with storeys from 1956 and stands in the Amsterdam district Bos en Lommer. It is the second of six post-war Dutch Reformed churches by the well-known architect and later professor of building science ir. Marius Duintjer. In his designs Duintjer sought a middle way between modernism and traditionalism (shake-hands). Duintjer's church designs reflect the changed views on the role of the (Dutch Reformed) church in society. Initially the church was only intended for religious worship, but after the Second World War it had to increasingly fulfill a social and community function. With the changed functions, the form also changes. The traditional typology of tower(s) and a nave is increasingly abandoned. Duintjer's first two churches, the Kruiskerk in Amstelveen and the Opstandingskerk (Coal Scuttle) in Amsterdam Bos en Lommer, still have this traditional layout and are sometimes called the 'cathedral churches'. The other four, including the Thomaskerk in Zeist, are known as 'bungalow churches'. The Opstandingskerk was built in 1956. It was the first building in this part of the district Bos en Lommer. Due to the free location, the height differences in and around the building and especially the distinctive tower, the church was prominently present and became the icon of the district. The nickname 'Coal Scuttle', because the tower resembled it strikingly, gained nationwide recognition. Functionally the church reflects the changed view of the church's role in society. The church wished to fulfill both a religious and a community role, as a meeting place for the many young families in the neighbourhood. Duintjer still adhered to the typology of a traditional church with a tower, but built a basement below the church hall, in which a community centre was located. The adjacent PARSONAGE, which was part of the design, was tellingly connected with both storey levels. Duintjer developed into an important architect of, among other things, churches, business buildings and hospitals. The Opstandingskerk / Coal Scuttle received much national and international attention. The reviews were generally very favourable. The church is the icon of Bos en Lommer, even though the very prominent location recognizable from afar has largely been negated by high-rise buildings as part of a major restructuring of the district. What has been preserved are the various stairs and platforms, which bridge the height differences on the west and north sides of church and parsonage. On the east side lies a simple planted area that follows the oval floor plan of the church together with community centre and is provided with the original small fence.

Description

The PARSONAGE of the Dutch Reformed Opstandingskerk, nicknamed the 'Coal Scuttle' from 1956 after design by ir. M. Duintjer, is attached to the north side of the church. The building has a rectangular floor plan and is two storeys high under a flat roof. It is constructed from the same materials as the church, namely concrete and steel with external walls of red brick in Flemish bond. The east and west facades are provided with glass panels on the upper storey. The parsonage has entrances at different levels, on both the west and east side of the church. A slightly lowered connecting section with blind facades connects the parsonage also via the interior with both storeys of the church with storeys (church hall on the ground floor and community centre in the basement).

Valuation

The PARSONAGE of the Dutch Reformed Opstandingskerk, nicknamed 'Coal Scuttle', in Amsterdam, is part of a total design of a church with storeys comprising church hall, community centre, stairs and parsonage after design by ir. M. F. Duintjer from 1956 and is of general importance as an essential exemplar of early Reconstruction, from the perspective of architectural history, urban planning and cultural history:

- as an inseparable part of the second and most well-known of the six church designs for Dutch Reformed churches with which architect ir. Marius Duintjer gained recognition at home and abroad because of the exceptional form and typology (church with storeys);

- as a well-preserved parsonage, which takes into account the height differences in and around the church and is accessible from each level from both inside and outside;

- because of the well-preserved principal form, facade layout, colour scheme and detailing, which is consistent with the whole of church and community centre;

- as a reflection of the changing role of the church in society through the combination of functions for both religious worship and community centre in one building, whereby the parsonage is tellingly physically connected with both functions.