Nicolaas Felix Andreas Molenaar, better known as N. Molenaar jr.
or Nic. Molenaar, was born
in Den Haag on June the 27th 1892 as the son of neo-Gothic architect N. Molenaar.
For part of his education he was send to the Canisiuscollege in Nijmegen, a
Jesuit
boarding school, the building for which was designed by his father. He was further educated in architecture at his father’s office
in en Haag, and the two architects worked
together until the father's death in 1930. Like his father, Molenaar jr. at first designed
churches in
neo-Gothic style, in several cases completing his father’s work. His first own
assignment was for the church H. Sacrament in his home town Den Haag, a church
in Traditionalist style related to the Delft School. Although he was one of the
many architects connected to the Delft School, and from 1933 was one of the
editors of the catholic architect's magazine R.K. Bouwblad, several of his
churches show a large influence from Expressionism, albeit in a
moderate version, rather than the pure Traditionalism the magazine promoted. In
his own writings, Molenaar manifested himself as an opponent of the modernist New
Objectivity.
After
the Second World War this style was replaced by a more modern variant. In 1957
Molenaar associated himself with architect P.A.N. Sips, who brought a more modernist
influence and continued the office after Molenaar retired. Molenaar died in
Groesbeek on May the 22nd 1973.
The following is a list of Molenaar's religious buildings. It is probably
incomplete.
1924-1925 Den Haag (ZH): completion church
St. Martha
Completion of the church started by his father; nave lengthened with another
trave and facade and tower added.
1925 Noordwijk (ZH): completion church St. Jeroen
Completion of the church started by his father; nave and side-aisles added, with facade and tower,
all in neo-Gothic style.
1925-1926 Den Haag (ZH): church H. Sacrament
Molenaar's first complete church. Three-aisled basilica in Traditionalist
style.
Basilica in a combination of Expressionist and Traditionalist styles.
1929-1931 Den Haag (ZH): church St. Theresiakerk
Centralizing church in Expressionist style, with ground-plan in the form of a
Greek cross. Demolished in 2016.
1932 Koog aan de Zaan (NH): church HH. Martelaren van Gorcum
Basilica in a combination of Expressionist and Traditionalist styles.
1934 Zuidermeer (NH): church O.L. Vrouw van Lourdes
Aisleless church in Expressionist style. Straight choir, small bell-tower
at the front of the roof. The choir was demolished in 2009, leaving the sacristy
seperate from the nave. These are now respectively used as a chapel and a
community center.
1935 Vleuten (U): extension church St. Willibrordus Addition of wide side-aisles to church designed by Molenaar Sr.
1936 Den Haag (ZH): convent Sint Jozefzorg
Convent in Traditionalist style, with school.
1938-1939 De Goorn (NH): convent Mariaoord
Convent in Traditionalist style, with chapel at the front.
1947 Den Haag (ZH): church O.L.V. Onbevlekt Hart van Mariakerk
Small aisleless church in Traditionalist style.
1948 Voorhout (ZH): design
for extension of church St. Bartholomeüs
Design only. Extension of a neo-Gothic pseudo-basilica with larger side-aisles
and a new transept.
1948 Sliedrecht (ZH): church O.L. Vrouw van Altijddurende Bijstand
Small church in Traditionalist style.
1951 Kwintsheul (ZH): enlargement church Andreas Apostel
Replacement of choir of neo-Gothic church with a new choir and wide
transept.
1953 Den Haag (ZH): church O.L. Vrouw van Fatima Church in modern Traditionalist style.
1956-1958 Den Haag (ZH): church H. Martelaren van Gorkum Church in modern Traditionalist style.
1962 Ermelo (G): church Goede Herder
Church in modern Traditionalist style.
1963 Amstelveen (NH): church O.L. Vrouw van de Berg Carmel
Large aisleless church in modern style, with tall tower. Demolished in 1994.
