© 2006 Jan Derwig
TOWN HALL USQUERT
H.P. BERLAGE, 1928-1930
Raadhuisstraat 3, Usquert
ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Hendrik Pieter Berlage
ASSISTING ARCHITECT:
Berend Jager
E.E. Strasser
BUILDING TYPE:
Government buildings
ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Hendrik Pieter Berlage
ASSISTING ARCHITECT:
Berend Jager
E.E. Strasser
BUILDING TYPE:
Government buildings
PUBLICATIONS:
de Architect 1980-3; Plan 1980-4; E. Taverne - Het raadhuis van Berlage in Usquert, 1980; R. Meischke - Huizen in Nederland, Utrecht, Noord-Brabant en de oostelijke provincies, 2000; T.M. Eliëns - Berlage in het Noorden, een raadhuis voor Usquert, Usquert/Wezep 2011
The commission for a town hall for this modest municipality (1700 inhabitants) was given a broad interpretation by Berlage. Making the council chamber on the first floor one module higher, adding a tower and building in materials foreign to the area resulted in a more representational appearance than was requested. Tower and entrance face the road, whereas the main mass follows the obliqueness of the site. The structure is traditional, the finish highly detailed. A council reshuffle relieved the building of its town hall duties and it now contains offices.