Architects: Jos. Wielders (1883-1949)
Jan
Joseph Wielders was born in
Sittard on September the 3rd of 1893
as the son of a carpenter. Shortly after his birth the family moved to
Nieuwstadt. At the age of 13, Joseph attended the drawingschool in
Roermond and in 1902 was hired as a draughtsman by architect Joosten in
Valkenburg. In 1910 he became overseer for the town of Sittard and was
later appointed town architect. In 1917 he left the municipal service to
start his own firm in Sittard.
Like A. Boosten, Wielders was a
modernist who would have nothing to
do with any of the neo-styles. Instead, he was influenced by the ideas
of H.P. Berlage, like clarity of construction, and the expressionism of
the Amsterdam School, both in his profane and religious work, with as a
highlight the watertower in Schimmert. He used
reinforced concrete for the skeleton of his churches, mostly in the
form of pointed arches which allowed for wide aisles, and used brick
for the walls. By 1935 Wielders' style had become more
conservative and featured traditional elements from his native province
of Limburg. His importance as an architect of churches had diminished
by then. After World War Two he built two more churches, one of which
replacing one he had built before the war. He was assisted by J. van
Groenendael, who contnued the office after Wielders'
death on April 30th 1949.
The following is an incomplete list of Wielders' work, concentrating on his religious work and important profane designs.
1915
Sittard (L): water pumping
station
Building in so-called Um 1800 style.
Wielders' first church. One-aisled building in moderate Expressionist style. Choir extended in 1954 by architect H.J. Palmen.
1919-1920
Nieuwenhagerheide (L):
church H.
Hart van Jezus
Cruciform church in moderate Expressionist style, with tower.
1920 Heerlen (L): cinema Hollandia
Demolished.1922-1923 Reijmerstok (L): church H. Franciscus van Assisië
One-aisled cruciform church with stepped, rectangular choir and a tower with a saddle-roof.
Complex in moderate Expressionist style.
Church in Expressionist style. Destroyed in 1944 and after the war replaced by a new church by Wielders.
Chapel in simple Expressionist style for a school.
1926-1927 Heerlen-Schandelen
(L): church H. Hart van Jezus
One-aisled church with tower. The nave is flanked om both sides by series of chapels.
Water tower in rich Expressionist style.
Tower added to older church. Like the church, the tower is built of marl.
Three-aisled church in Expressionist style. Semi-circular choir with ambulatory.
School in moderate Expressionist style.
Three-aisled church in Expressionist style.
1929-1931
Sittard-Overhoven: church H. Hart van Jezus
Three-aisled cruciform church in moderate Expressionist style. Tower inspired by the work of W.M. Dudok.
1929
Sittard (L): cinema Forum
One-aisled chapel in moderate Expressionist style. Slim tower next to the front.
Three-aisled cruciform church
1938
Sittard (L): Gemmaconvent
Church in Traditionalist style, based on the foundations of the destroyed predecessor. Completed by J. van Groenendael after Wielders' death.
Cruciform church in Traditionalist style. Completed by J. van Groenendael after Wielders' death.