ARCHITECTUURGIDS.NL / ARCHITECTUREGUIDE.NL

BANK BUILDING R. MEES & ZOONEN

A.J. KROPHOLLER, A.A. VAN NIEUWENHUIJZEN, 1930-1934, Blaak 10, Rotterdam

ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Jacobus Kropholler

ASSISTING ARCHITECT:
A.A. van Nieuwenhuijzen

ARTIST:
Jo Uiterwaal
J.Th. Stracké
Jan van Munster

BUILDING TYPE:
Office buildings
Buildings for education
Reuse


RELATED BUILDINGS:
Rotterdam University

Between 1930 and 1934 existing premises on Blaak (in those days Zuidblaak) were converted into an office building for the firm of R. Mees & Zoonen, who had been domiciled here since 1745. Its new brick facade had sandstone corbels and lintels whose irregular disposition was informed by the surrounding buildings. The public and representative spaces have a fair-faced finish enlivened with masonry arches and vaults, though the building's frame is concrete. Damaged during the 1940 bombardment, it was restored and in 1982 appropriated by the Academy of Visual Arts. Kees Christiaanse has since added a new portion on Wijnhaven.