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OFFICE BUILDING LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
A.A. VAN NIEUWENHUIJZEN, C. ELFFERS, 1941-1949, Schiekade 830, Rotterdam
ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Kees Elffers
A.A. van Nieuwenhuijzen
ARTIST:
Albert Termote
:
Studio A1
EXTENSION:
Kees Elffers
BUILDING TYPE:
Office buildings
Like the bank buildings on Blaak (https://www.architectureguide.nl/project/item/prj_id/18" class="inline_link">Amsterdamsche Bank/Incassobank, https://www.architectureguide.nl/project/item/prj_id/16" class="inline_link">Twentsche Bank en https://www.architectureguide.nl/project/item/prj_id/17" class="inline_link">Nederlandsche Handel-maatschappij), this life insurance office was built in a suitably distinguished traditional style. The lower storeys of this rectangular brick edifice take up the entire block; the upper storeys are U-shaped and enfold a courtyard. The monumental entrance has bronze doors and an oval window containing allegorical imagery. Two large statues of the founding fathers of insurance mathematics - Christiaan Huygens (left) and Johan de Witt - stand at the corners of the front facade. Now housing commercial units, the building gained a modernist extension in 1966. In 2005 this new portion was stripped and refaced.