Militair verblijfsgebouw, Kildijk 143

English translation

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Description

Cluster 83.

NEW HOLLAND WATER LINE

Introduction

BOMBPROOF BUILDING with BARRACKS and MAGAZINES as an example of a type of bombproof structures that are provided with an earth covering on three sides and on top and that possess only a facade on the gorge side. The barracks section comprises two storeys, a powder magazine and two magazines at floor height.

A barracks is a residential building for soldiers and their equipment. It was the French who introduced the system at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century of housing soldiers in barracks; many barracks became part of forts from that time onwards, but there were also numerous instances of them being created as separate structures inside or outside built-up areas (cities). The barracks buildings situated within 19th-century forts and other works were usually constructed as bombproof shelters, that is to say they were designed to withstand enemy artillery fire. Masonry several metres thick or (reinforced) concrete was used as building material, while as covering of the roof and the front side earth cladding was applied in addition. Thickening of masonry, application of shock-absorbing masonry systems (among other things by means of arches), shallow angles of incline and curved or conversely pointed forms, use of concrete - and later of reinforced concrete - in increasingly heavy execution, was one of the ways to keep fortifications resistant to increasing attack power. Moreover, the application of earth coverings proved to be an effective means of absorbing or dampening energy. This is the reason why many masonry or concrete works were provided with a layer of earth or a front protection of sand or earth. The barracks not situated within forts or other works were buildings erected and equipped especially for that purpose or not, with accommodation for the (permanent) housing of military personnel, often also provided with other military facilities, such as parade grounds.

Magazines are structures in which weapons, ammunition, other materials and equipment could be stored. Magazines are usually executed as bombproof structures, that is to say they had to be resistant to bombardment with projectiles of a certain calibre.

In the case of the barracks with magazines of the Work on the Bakkerskil, earth cladding of the heavy masonry has taken place almost all around; only the main facade is visible. The barracks with magazines is situated centrally on the fort with the facade facing north - the gorge side of the defensive work.

Description

BOMBPROOF BUILDING with BARRACKS and MAGAZINES of the Work on the Bakkerskil - covered on three sides and on top by a thick earth cladding, as a result of which only the facade on the gorge or north side is visible. The entire work is undercellared with water reservoir, cesspit and inverted vaults as foundation. The facade, executed in heavy masonry, approximately 75 m long, comprises some eleven non-identical bays, of which the six left-hand and the two furthest right have two storeys and the four remaining ones have one storey. The facade end follows this division by falling considerably in the middle and the surface of the earth covering also follows this construction. The barracks is situated in the left-hand section. The facade terminates on both sides in a rearward-curved retaining wall, which was previously hidden from view on the ground floor by walls placed at right angles to the main facade, behind which lay masonry vaults with earth claddings and slopes. The traces of these no longer present building elements are still observable. Division of the left-hand facade section, behind which the barracks was situated, by multiple stretching arches. Coupled entrance and window combinations consisting of arched entrances with predominantly similar windows on both sides of varying size not everywhere the same. Arched, wooden, single and double doors and likewise shutters. On the upper storey comparable types of single or coupled facade openings of varying size. The right-hand section is executed more soberly, with only an entrance on the ground floor and on the upper storey at the location of the former extension. The low middle section is divided by multiple stretching arches and each provided with one or more facade openings. The interior was not visited.

Valuation

The BOMBPROOF BUILDING with BARRACKS and MAGAZINES of the Work on the Bakkerskil is of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Holland Water Line as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially from 1815 realised by him, Jan Blanken and Major-Engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently strengthened and improved by others over approximately 125 years.

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

This concerns here a component from the years 1877-1880, namely an example of a brick and earth-covered, bombproof building.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Holland Water Line. Also because of the functional and physical coherence with the other components of the complex.

* The component is representative because it still displays in its appearance the characteristics that underline the defensive purpose of that time.

* The component is well preserved because it has undergone little substantial modification in the course of time and has retained its original structure.