Bomvrij militair object, Voordorpsedijk bij 28

English translation

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Description

Cluster 35. Bombproof Barracks A.

NEW HOLLAND WATER LINE

Introduction

BOMBPROOF BARRACKS A, as built around 1870, earth-covered main component of Fort Voordorp. A barracks is a residential building for soldiers and their equipment. It was the French who at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century introduced the system of housing soldiers in barracks; from that time on, barracks became part of forts, but in addition many were also created as separate structures within or outside built-up areas (towns). The barracks buildings situated within 19th-century forts and other works were usually constructed as bombproof shelters, that is to say they were intended to withstand enemy fire. Masonry metres thick was initially used as building material and later (reinforced) concrete, while the roof and front side(s) were additionally covered with earth. The barracks not situated within forts or other works were buildings either specifically erected and fitted out for that purpose or not, 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 Voordorp is situated opposite the entrance to the fort and belongs to the large, earth-covered on three sides and on top, bombproof buildings. The only visible façade faces southwest (the side originally intended as such, the gorge). The building is now fitted out for catering and event functions and has undergone internal renovation for this purpose, while adaptations have also been carried out on the rear side, including to increase light access and to create circulation spaces. These alterations are not or scarcely noticeable from the ground floor at the front façade. The vaults set at right angles to the main façade have remained virtually completely intact. The originally green-painted windows, doors and shutters are now oxblood red.

Description

The BOMBPROOF BARRACKS A was initially almost symmetrical in layout and consisted of eleven bays, the leftmost of which is set back. On the right side a two-storey extension was realised in 1878-79, and here there is also a projecting structure placed at right angles to the main façade, in which sanitary facilities are housed. The relatively large building is provided with an earth covering on top and is also earth-covered on the short sides. The façade is articulated by pilasters with moulded brick capitals. Between these are segmental arches. Most bays contain a door and two windows. The seventh bay from the right contains double doors, with above it a façade stone with the date '1869'. The interior comprises a number of rectangular rooms with moulded segmental arch vaults, which originally (viewed from west to east) served as, among other things, kitchen, telegraph office, officers' quarters and sick bay. The right extension comprises a water point on the ground floor and a double remise. Via a cast-iron staircase, the second storey is reached, with two vaulted rooms.

Valuation

The BOMBPROOF BARRACKS A of Fort Voordorp 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 by others over approximately 125 years strengthened and improved.

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

This concerns a component of the first building period of the fort, around 1870, modified and extended around 1878, as an example of a relatively large, earth-covered, brick, bombproof structure.

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

* The component is moderately characteristic because it still shows characteristics on the façade side (gorge side) that underscore the then-defensive purpose, but because it has undergone major internal and external alterations on the earth-covered front side.

* The component is in technically good condition through restoration. The component is fairly well preserved because the building is in largely the same condition as it was around 1880 and because it retains authentic and/or executed-according-to-original-form components and details,