Mysterious building

[Mosaic]

Can anyone tell me more about this building, situated at about number 27 Damrak, Amsterdam?
http://s561.photobuck...¤t=P1010107.jpg
Ignoring the orange plastic store sign at ground level, the building has amazing architctutral details including full size statues of people, baboons, chamelons and owls.

[sandyRoe]

It has an Art Deco look about it. Maybe early 20th Century.

[Mosaic]

Agree Sandy, but the wacky animals aren't archetypically art deco.

[sandyRoe]

Could the statues be a reference towards the Dutch overseas possessions?

[~Wingnut~]

Can I just ask Mosaic, did you do the drawing (no3)? It's fantastic!

[Mosaic]

Thanks Trim
Not Wingnut - I bought it at a jumble - AB kindly identified the location for me.

[bookbinder]

I have found a Dutch-language website that gives detailed information about the building. I am not sure how much information you want, so here are a few lines. If you have any questions I shall seek the answers on the website (which I have printed out).
The correct address is: Damrak 28-30, 1012 LJ, Amsterdam. It is known as the offices of insurance company "De Utrecht", or the De Utrecht Building. As you already know, it was designed by two architects and was built in 1905. The 5 over-life-sized statues (by J. Mendes da Costa 1863-1939) symbolise Protective Love; Thrift; Wisdom subduing evil; the Uncertainty/Vicissitudes of the times; and - on the corner of Karnemelksteeg - Vigilance. The small bronze statue over the main entrance - a praying woman before the Wheel of Fortune - represents Adoration/Worship.

[heathfield]

Brings to mind one or two of New York's cast iron buildings. Lovely frontage, but the roofline has always seemed to me to be a bit heavy and overbearing, and is strangely at odds to the lines of the facade at street level. See picture on this Wiki page, translated from the Dutch...

http://translate.goog...%3D822%26prmd%3Divnsm

[Mosaic]

Bookbinder - thank you so much, that explains a lot.....I wonder if the baboon, owls and chameleons have similar symbolic meaning? It also explains why the building at no. 26 has 'Utrecht' written in coloured tile at third storey level, which was going to be another question!
Heathfield - thanks for the link - to me, the roof is reminiscent of the Amrath Hotel which is of similar date.....it strikes me as a variation on the traditional dutch gables. I quite like it personally.
It seems odd that in a city with so much pride in its built heritage, they've let Damrak go absolutely to the dogs. It is lined with truly beautiful buildings if you look above the shop fronts.

[bookbinder]

Mosaic, as you have mentioned the carved creatures, you might be interested in a further extract from the Dutch website that I mentioned:
J. Mendes da Costa designed, among others, the capitals in the form of two back-to-back owlets, stylised pelicans that serve as consoles [or; brackets], and other stylised creatures which can be seen on the façade. Together with the 5 statues, these symbolic representations touch on the themes and motifs that life insurance companies used in their advertising: the vicissitudes of life; and the possibility of insuring the individual against the financial consequences of bad times.
The building is a national monument.
The shops at ground level were originally rented out to a firm called Dake, whose name can even now just be discerned in the granite on the corner.

[Mosaic]

Thanks again Bookbinder!