Tuindorp Vooruit: 1920s architecture

The entrance to the Poortlaan from the Parkweg has been treated like a gate by the architects and thus creates a separate world within. The striking central ensemble of the garden village Vooruit (Forwards) physically and visually starts here.

The entrance of the Poortlaan (literally Gate Avenue) consists of L-shaped houses on both ends of the long row of terraces behind. Also parts of the upper floor protrudes over  the pavement with an arched stone porch, thus strengthening the gate-typology. From the porch a long vista along the terraced houses appears (shown on the right).

This so-called "Hofje" is unique in Ede. The typology of this type of low buildings beyond a gate around a communal yard was quite common in medieval times as a form of housing for the needy or destitute. These almshouses were only to be found in cities. With the gate and the long facades, this is yet another very urban reference utilized in this garden village.

From the Gate that separates the central yard of the Hofje from the Poortlaan one gets a good feel of the intensions of the designers. This small ensemble used to lie isolated at the halfway point of the central ensemble. Now new buildings have been constructed on either side. This reinforces the insular character of this Hofje, but why on earth would the architect choose this colour blend of brick so different to the original ensemble?

The long terraces are comprised of low brick houses under one continues roof. All restored houses have the same green striped awnings. The entrances to the garden paths are marked by little porches.

A porch wasn't a feature of existing local architecture. They are an invention of the architects and serve as a rhythmic embellishment meant to partition the long facades of the terraced housing. Their design has been inspired by Waterland architecture commonly found in the polders north of Amsterdam.This detached house (shown right) was the residence of the Enka-factory overseer. It sits at the halfway point and is meant to convey the message that even in their private residences (that were provided by the factory) behavior would be monitored.

Just before the Poortplein the Poortlaan is bayoneted (thus conforming to Camillo Sitte who preferred short lines of sight). The bayonet is used to particularize the architecture. This is true of the short terraces and of the higher corner building that refers in its treatment to historic buildings with additions from different periods thus creating a romantic silhouette.

The corner building in the bayoneted street is adorned with an ornate version of a bell gable, a reference to the historic urban architecture of the Low Countries. All gable ends are treated differently for romantic effect. The short terrace of four dwellings has elevated corners with a portico in wood. The architectural reference seems to be medieval in this case. As an ensemble within a streetscape is works very well! 

The ensemble ends with the semicircular Poortplein (literally: Gate Square). It is only fitting that the central street should be closed off by a similar gate-like feature as used at the entrance. The same covered walkways are clearly visible along the road.

The building line traces the semicircular shape of the public garden at the Poortplein. Here the same awnings are visible.  The semidetached houses on the Blokkenweg parallel to the railway tracks differ in architecture. These houses (shown on the right) were meant for the more skilled labourers.

From the Kerkweg the buildings along the Poortplein show great variety, especially in roofline, position of the chimneys and type of wall opening used. The whole makes for a varied and romantic building ensemble.

From the semicircular Poortplein long rows of terraced houses stretch along the Kerkweg in a wing like fashion akin to formal baroque architecture. The ensemble around the Poortplein is thus extended to form a formal front along the Kerkweg (and as such towards the intended phase two on the other side of the road).

The school was built in the 1930s across from the Poortplein as the centre of the garden village Vooruit. It sat on a rectangular plot exactly twice the length of the Poortplein. Now it has been shortened by a street for the new buildings of the redeveloped phase two.