In Elias
History
In 1645, Amsterdam's city center was growing rapidly and bustling with life, attracting people and trade. With this growth came an increasing demand for food and drink.
That is when Maarten Backer decides to start a bakery and build a building for himself at Number . He also had a biblical message inscribed under Elias. This was a reference to Elijah, who warned the King against idolatry. God punished the King with drought, and Elias led him to a stream with water. There, Elias was fed by crows.
The facade stone refers to this story. Backer must have identified with Elias.
The building served as a bakery until 1880. The facade is built in the Renaissance style with a stepped gable, masonry and arches, and sturdy wooden window frames with muntin bars. The lower facade has been modified without detracting from its appearance. The restoration in 2008 restored the building to its original grandeur. Much has been preserved internally, including beautiful paneling, wainscoting, and the exposed structure.
Thanks to careful maintenance since 2008, the monument is ready for the future.
Historical atmosphere.
The house has a beautifully detailed front door that opens onto a spacious hall. The hall has a high ceiling with beams, which immediately evokes a historic atmosphere. French doors lead from the hall to the kitchen at the rear of the house, and the hall also has a staircase to the upper floors. The kitchen is bathed in light thanks to the large, tall windows on the south side, which overlook the garden.
The beautiful floorboards and beamed ceiling on the first floor contribute to the atmosphere of yesteryear. The lighting has been creatively installed using copper pipes. Niches and brickwork further reinforce the rich historical character.
Outside
This garden is shared with the neighbors and forms a communal courtyard garden. The garden faces south and is surrounded by greenery, making it an oasis in the city. For bicycles, there is a back entrance via Suikerbakkerssteeg, which is closed to the public with a large open shed and bicycle shed.
Brutalism in Amsterdam: Concrete, Form Follows Function, and A New Perspective. With The Brutalist, a film currently in theaters, brutalist architecture is once again in the spotlight. Although Amsterdam is not as well-known for brutalist architecture as London or Paris, the city does have some iconic buildings in this style. Consider the massive concrete blocks of the AMC (Amsterdam UMC, location AMC), the high-rise of the Vrije Universiteit, or the imposing former GAK building in Bos en Lommer. There are also some residential houses designed in this style, such as 'Brute Prins', an exponent of the robust architectural style from the fifties, Brutalism. A design by architect Gerard Prins. Get inspired and read more about this architectural style
