Bijgebouwen, Giessensesteeg 2

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

Cluster 79.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATERLINE

Introduction

FORT WARDEN'S DWELLING (E) at Fort Giessen as an official residence and component of the fort complex. Since most forts and other (defence works located outside built-up areas) had no military personnel stationed there when there was no mobilisation or exercises, in many cases there was a separate dwelling or other accommodation for a caretaker or warden. Sometimes such a dwelling or accommodation also had another function, such as a lock or bridge keeper's house. In a number of cases such a dwelling already existed before the fort was built; the fitting-in then had an ad hoc character. Regarding the location of a warden's dwelling, there were no clear standards; sometimes they are on the fort grounds, but sometimes outside them. The building materials used also vary, but usually consist of brick or wood. The fort warden's dwelling at Fort Giessen is located at the north-eastern start of the fort's access road, outside the actual fort and moat. On the rear side there is a later extension under a gabled roof, which is not whitewashed.

Description

The FORT WARDEN'S DWELLING (E) at Fort Giessen is located on the north-eastern side of the fort's access road, the front gable parallel to the access road and the roof ridge perpendicular to it; in both roof planes a brick chimney. The brick dwelling, dating from around 1880, is a single-storey building on a (virtually) square ground plan, covered by a gabled roof tiled with muffled, (newly) improved hollow tiles. The original building is entirely plastered and whitewashed, except for a dark plinth. The gable facing the access road is symmetrically arranged with a central, wide entrance, in which a panelled door and iron grilles for the windows and fanlight. On the left and right two rectangular, glazed sash windows with glazed fanlight and wooden shutters; in the gable a double window with fanlight. On the left in the left gable two similar windows. In the right gable a garden door and window. In the rear gable also a smaller window. Ornamental wall anchors in several gables. The interior was not visited.

Assessment

The FORT WARDEN'S DWELLING (E) at Fort Giessen is of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially realised from 1815 by him, Jan Blanken and major-engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently strengthened and improved by others for approximately 125 years.

* Architectural-historical values, in particular as an expression of building related to military-strategic construction, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th century), b. the race with increasingly reinforced offensive means (19th century).

This concerns a component from the period 1871-1886, namely a military official residence from around 1880.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline. Also because of the functional and physical coherence with the other components of the complex and because of the location at the throat side of the fort, outside the moat.

* The component is representative because it is an example of an official military residence arranged at a small distance from the defence work in question.

* The component is reasonably well preserved because the main form and structural detailing as well as various components have remained intact.