Arcen (L): H. Petrus
(H.W. Valk & G.H.F. Valk, 1953-1959)
This
church is credited to H.W. Valk and his son G.H.F. Valk, but
there is at least one source that adds another two architects;
H.W. Valk Jr. and F.H. Stoks. The first obviously is another
son of H.W. Valk whose role in the project is unclear, the other
an architect from Venlo who often lend his name to projects by
architects from outside the province, to make it easier for them
to get commissioned. In this case because the diocese of Roermond
was not eager to give Valk any more assignments, after several
bad experiences. In the same period a church by H.W. Valk and G.H.F. Valk was built
in Apeldoorn that was very similar in layout to this one; a christocentric
church with a protruding front flanked by two towers of different
height and a transept that far exceeded the width of the nave. Unlike the church in Apeldoorn,
the one in Arcen has a square crossing-tower and a choir with ambulatory. Other differences are the shapes of
the window and the arrangement of the towers.
An earlier design from 1953 for the church in Arcen showed a
different front, with two towers of equal height standing slighty
more forward than the facade. This design was not accepted.
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