Barbershop Nijhuis
The model of barbershop Nijhuis. In the shop window mini pieces of plastic as 'cosmetics' and the heads of 3 Preiser figurines as models for wigs.
The last (and smallest) model that I made for the Twentse Modelspoorweg Club is this building. In reality it was a fine detailled structure, so I tried to recreate that in the model.
Not much is known about the building or it's history. From archive research it in clear that barber Willem Nijhuis already worked in Molenstraat 12 in 192. In augustus of that year he advertised for a "competent Barber Assistent, not Above 20 yrs., pref. Reformed Religion".
Advertentisement of barber Nijhuis in the Nieuwsblad voor Nederland, August 11, 1902.
[Source: Delpher]
Originally the building only had a ground floor, where the barbershop was located. In 1922 this barbershop was refurbished. Nijhuis advertised in the Tubantia newspaper with a "shaving salon, fully equiped according to the demands of our time; neat and - because of a larger staff - fast service".
Probably the upstairs living quarters were also built then. That would fit neatly with the facade with it's wavy lines. It is a perfect example of the architecture of the 'Amsterdam school', then a populair building style.
The very neglected structure of barbershop Nijhuis, just before the dismanteling in 2023. I included the vase that is so prominently visible in the bay window in my model. Be it, that my version has a less slim neck ;-).
The building has been quite neglected in the last few years. And it is not a monument. Luckily the architectural value was recognized. When demolishing this part op Molenstraat in the end of 2023 the facade of nr 12 was carefully dismanteled and stored. It will reappear in the new buildings of Bölke Next, as an entrance for the appartements in the back.
Before disassembly the complete building was measured and drawn, for the later rebuild. But neither the project developer nor the architect reacted to my request for drawings. So in the end I made the model from one photo made by myself. For the details I gratefully made use of the Amsterdam School website Wendingen.
The interior of the barbershop as it could have looked in 1975. On the wall opposite of the desk a Wella poster from 1975, with the famous blond style icon Farrah Fawcett.
The model is largely made out of cardboard; only the facade is made of Forex. The shop window and doors on the ground floor, the bay window (incl. the black wood at the bottom) and windows above are my own 3D-prints. The small ridges on the vertical strips on the left- and righthand side are Evergreen polystyreen strips, just like the fascia board. The brickwork at the top of the facade has been cut from printed thick paper.
The living room on the first floor also originates in my own fantasy. The grey arms chairs and couches are my own 3D-prints; the dining table chairs are made by Faller.
The model will be placed directly next to bar dancing de Olifant, at the front of the club layout. So a lot of effort was put into the interior. The show window downstairs and the barbershop at it's back were fully furnished. Just like the living quarters above.
One can look into the attic room through the two windows at the top of the facade. But clearly the occupents of the house are not pleased by prying eyes. (The poster on the backwall reads: Do not look into our interior).
Eventually this model will also be equiped with MobaLEdLib lighting. But during the mounting of the leds my soldering station gave up the ghost. So I first need to buy a new one.