Scholtenskoepel, Garden tea house and national monument in Groningen, Netherlands.
Scholtenskoepel is an octagonal building topped with a copper dome and featuring large arched windows framed by cast iron columns. The structure is ringed with semi-circular verandas that define its distinctive silhouette.
Industrial magnate Willem Albert Scholten commissioned architect Jan Maris to build this tea house, which opened in 1869. The structure was completely restored in 1979 and later adapted to serve as office space while gaining national monument status.
The cast iron statues placed in wall niches portray different seasons and were made by a French foundry company. Visitors can still observe these sculptural details today, which add character to the structure's appearance.
The building sits at Hereweg 20 and is now in private office use, so interior access is not generally available to visitors. You can view and photograph the exterior architecture and its decorative elements from the street.
A gilded Mercury statue crowns the dome and remains visible from a distance as a striking focal point. The interior preserves original parquet flooring and ceiling frescoes decorated with floral motifs throughout the space.
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