Groningen, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Ged. Zuiderdiep 96-98
— Stadsmonumenten —
Veertig jaar later, in 1928, was er opnieuw uitbreiding nodig en gemeente-architect S.J. Bouma mocht iets ontwerpen. Hoewel hij een bestaand gebouw moest verwerken in z’n plan, kon dit hem niet verhinderen z’n favoriete Amsterdamse School-stijl toe te passen. Een poort tussen de oude en nieuwe bebouwing, gevellengtes en hoogte waren de enige gegevenheden voor Bouma. Sloop van vier gebouwen op de hoek van en langs de Ubbo Emmiusstraat gaf volop ruimte voor een eigentijdse invulling. De Zuiderdiepgevel kreeg van de gemeente-architect een horizontale structuur, die langs de Ubbo Emmiusstraat werd verticaal ingevuld. Bouma nam geen genoegen met goedkoop en koos voor steensoorten van kwaliteit. Een bijzondere vlaggenmast met bladgouden kop in een blauwe smeedijzeren houder met de letters GW, vormde de kroon op zijn werk.
Omdat de gemeente in de jaren ’80 koos voor concentratie van diensten, moest de vroegere ‘Meisjesschool voor Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs’ (later M. van Coehoorn-school) het loodje leggen. In de traditie van de Dienst RO/EZ kreeg de maatschap Karelse van der Meer de opdracht aan te sluiten bij het bestaande. In een lang en wigvormig kavel moest circa 6100 m2 kantoorruimte worden gerealiseerd. De dienst kreeg volgens Van der Meer een open gebouw ‘waarin men zich niet kan verbergen’ en de trap zo smal is dat je ‘elkaar wel tegen moet komen’.
For less than three thousand guilders, P. Offringa built an office, carpentry and woodshed as part of his services to the council in 1861, which was the forerunner of today's RO/EZ department. He built it in a garden which was recently bought by the city from an ‘engineer of public works’. The new building was in line with one of the already bought enclosures at the Zuiderdiep. After the demolition of the building, the amount of work for the department kept increasing because of the growing number of building permit requests. Initially the municipality had few demands and requirements, but this changed after 1886. A change in the police’s regulations resulted in more protection in the fields of public health and safety. The department grew too exponentially and as aconsequence the demolition and new construction works at the Zuiderdiep followed.
Forty years later, in 1928, there was another expansion required and the municipality’s architect S.J. Bouma could design something. Although he had to work on an existing building, this did not stop him from applying his favorite Amsterdam school style. An entrance between the old and the new building, facade measurements on height and length were the only aspects given to him. The demolition of four buildings on the corner along the Ubbo Emmiusstraat provided the necessary space for a contemporary completion. The facade at the Zuiderdiep was built using a horizontal structure and along the Ubbo Emmiustraat it was done vertically. Bouma was not satisfied with cheap materials and decided to choose for quality stones. He culminated his work with a special flagpole which had a leaf gold cup wrought in a blue iron holder with the letters GW.
As a result of the council’s decision to concentrate all servicesin the 80's, the former Girls school for advanced primary education (Later M. van Coehoorn-school) had to close down. As part of the tradition of the RO/EZ the partnership of Karelse Van der Meer was granted another contract that could be connected to the existing one. In the contract, they had to build office spaces in a long and wedge- shaped plot of approximately 6100 m2. According to Van der Meer, the service received an open building ‘in which nobody could hide and the staircases were so narrow that you had to meet each other’.
Erected by Gemeente Groningen. (Marker Number 19.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Groningen Stadsmonumenten series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
Location. 53° 12.859′ N, 6° 33.918′ E. Marker is in Groningen. Marker is on Gedempte Zuiderdiep, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Gedempte Zuiderdiep 96, Groningen 9711 JR, Netherlands. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Synagogue (within shouting distance of this marker); De Toekomst / “The Future” (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Herestraat 106 (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Hereplein 4-5 (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Sociaal Democratische Bond / Social Democratic Union (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Vismarkt 56 (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Vereeniging van Groningen Handelaren / Groningen Merchants Association (1847 - 1992) (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Oprichting van de Loge / Establishment of I.O.O.F. Lodge (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Groningen.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 76 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 1, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.