Bomvrij militair object, De Bilt

English translation

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Description

Cluster 31. Shellproof barracks B.

NEW HOLLAND WATER LINE

Introduction

SHELLPROOF BARRACKS B, built around 1870, earth-covered main component of Fort Ruigenhoek. A barracks is a residential building for soldiers and their equipment. It was the French who introduced, at the end of the eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth century, the system of housing soldiers in barracks; barracks have since become part of forts, but in addition many have been constructed as separate structures within or outside built-up areas (towns). The barracks buildings situated within nineteenth-century forts and other structures were usually constructed as shellproof accommodations, that is, they were designed to withstand enemy fire. Metre-thick masonry was initially used as building material and later (reinforced) concrete, while as covering of the roof and front side(s) an earthing over also took place. The barracks not located within forts or other structures were buildings specially erected and fitted out for that purpose or otherwise, with accommodation for the (permanent) housing of military personnel, often also provided with other military facilities, such as exercise grounds. The barracks building of Fort Ruigenhoek is situated centrally on the work and belongs to the shellproof buildings covered with earth on three sides and on top. The only visible facade faces to the southwest (the gorge side).

Description

SHELLPROOF BARRACKS B of Fort Ruigenhoek (1870) lies to the north behind building A and has a rectangular ground plan. The building is earthed over on three sides and on top. The brick southwest facade has seven bays, of which the eastern one is slightly narrower. At the location of each soldiers' quarters there is in the middle a door with on either side a window. The openings retain the original half-doors with loopholes. The facade is provided with masonry arches above the windows and doors. The ends of the facade slope downward. On top a number of masonry chimneys and/or ventilation ducts.

Valuation

The SHELLPROOF BARRACKS B of Fort Ruigenhoek 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 realised from 1815 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 design, 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 around 1870, as an example of an earth-covered, brick, shellproof structure.

* 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 (characteristic) because its appearance exhibits the characteristics that underline the defensive purpose of that time.

* The component is well preserved because the structure is in virtually the condition in which it was around 1880 and because it still has various authentic components and details.