De Utrecht, Art Nouveau office building in Utrecht, Netherlands.
De Utrecht was a five-story Art Nouveau office building with carved stone sculptures adorning its main facade along Leidseweg street. The interior housed paintings and furniture crafted by local artisans for the insurance company.
Insurance company Utrecht commissioned architect Jan Verheul to design the building, which opened in 1902. The structure was demolished in 1974 to make way for the Hoog Catharijne shopping center.
The building carried the name of an insurance company and reflected Utrecht's economic importance in the early 1900s. Its art collections and crafted interiors showcased the owner's wealth and cultural ambitions.
The building stood between Utrecht Central Station and the city center, making it a central location. Today, only the rescued sculptures can be viewed at the Music Center Vredenburg.
Three original sculptures from the building - an insurance angel and two dragons - were saved and moved to the Music Center Vredenburg. These artworks survived the structure's demolition and still tell the story of its former grandeur.
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