Hendrik Petrus Berlage

Hendrik Petrus Berlage (often HP Berlage, born February 21, 1856 in Amsterdam, † August 12 1934 in The Hague ) was a Dutch architect at the threshold from historicism to modernism.

Father of modern architecture in the Netherlands

Berlage is frequently seen as the father of modern architecture in the Netherlands, although most of his works are not mentioned in the modern trend. He was very influential, but the full step into the modern age, he had not quite completed. Today many of his buildings, and above all be admired urban development are assigned to the traditionalism. In urban planning, he had a traditionalist setting, Camillo Sitte was closer than the CIAM. The development from historicism to modernism took place in the Netherlands according to the following steps:

• Historicism (Pierre Cuypers )
• Traditionalism ( partially Berlage, Delft School )
• Expressionism ( Kramer, de Klerk criticized Berlage in Bouwkundig Weekblad 45/1916 )
• New Building

In the new architecture in the Netherlands, the following trends can be distinguished:

• De Stijl ( Rietveld, Oud, van Doesburg with De Stijl/1917 manifesto against the "modern baroque " of Expressionism of the Amsterdam School )
• CIAM - Rationalism ( Van Eesteren, van Tijen, Merkel stream with De-8/1927 manifesto against the Amsterdam School )
• Constructivism ( Duiker, van der Vlugt )
• Brick - Cubism ( Dudok, partially Berlage )

Career and Architecture

First Berlage began to study at the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam to become a painter, but broke this off after one year and began to study architecture under Gottfried Semper and Eugène Viollet -le- Duc at the Polytechnic of Zurich, where he graduated in 1878. He then went on a three year journey, especially by Italy and Germany. In 1881 he returned to his homeland and joined the Amsterdam office of the engineer Theodore Sanders, whose partner he was from 1884 to 1889, before he made ​​independently with its own architecture office.

Although self- educated in the sense of historicism, Berlage practiced soon fierce criticism of this style, which he perceived as dishonest and out of date. In his text " Architecture and Impressionism " from 1893 Berlage designed a picture of the architecture in a ( hoped for by him) democratic society. The new form of society should be reflected in find an affordable, simple, and thus commonly understood architecture. Especially to be able to assert itself in the face of financial constraints in addition to the pure engineers, the architects had to practice in simplicity, as Berlage, and offer artistic quality at no extra cost.

As a result occurred in Berlage's buildings the historical forms ( esp. the Renaissance ) further and further into the background. The works in the following years - about the buildings for " De Nederlanden ..." and the Amsterdam Stock Exchange - are characterized by increasing flatness and block-like. The exposed- brick masonry (often for the interior ) embossing, decorative forms are largely integrated into the wall surface. The often monumental effect of buildings is mainly based on a characteristic silhouette and harmonious weight distribution. The draft Berlage emanates from the space requirement, which is satisfied as possible functional. The rational inner space distribution is not hidden behind a uniform, symmetrical facade, but is often characterized significantly from the exterior.

The only construction exported by Berlage in Germany was the Dutch house in Leipzig. The 1901 to 1903 built German branch of Algemeene Maatschappij van Levensverzekering s Lijfrente was destroyed in the Second World War.

In the following decades his long career Berlage remained faithful to its basic principles. The traditional brick was partially replaced by modern materials. For example in the Christian Science Church in The Hague or the Municipal Museum of The Hague Berlage came as a thoroughly modern design.

Works (selection)

• People's House, Lochem (1891/1892)
• Villa Heymans, Groningen (1893-1895)
• Building for " De Nederlanden van 1845 ", Amsterdam ( 1894-1896 and 1910/1911 )
• Building for " De Nederlanden ... ", The Hague (1895/1896 and 1908/1909)
• Amsterdam Stock Exchange (1896-1903)
• Main building for " Algemeene Nederlandsche Diamantbewerkersbond ", Amsterdam (1897-1900)
• Villa Henny, The Hague (1898 )
• Nieuwe Amstelbrug, Amsterdam (1899-1903)
• Dutch House, Leipzig (1901-1903)
• Agricultural Complex " De Schipborg " (1914 )
• Holland House, London (1914-1916)
• St. Hubertus Hunting Lodge, Hoenderloo (1914-1920)
• Gemeentemuseum, The Hague (1919/1920 and 1928-1935)
• Building for " De Nederlanden ... ", The Hague (1920-1927)
• Christian Science Church, The Hague (1925/1926)
• Town Hall, Usquert (1928-1930)

Besides the known works of architecture, Berlage was intensely occupied with questions of social housing and urban planning (plans for Amsterdam South 1900-1905 and 1914-1917; expansion plan for The Hague 1907-1911 ). In addition, he also provided the interior of his buildings in part and worked closely with sculptors and other artists. The iron Strommmasten for the electric tram in Amsterdam were also designed in the early 20th century by the architect. He lectured widely in the Netherlands and abroad, published articles and books.

Expansion of the city The Hague - Structure Plan 1908

Extract " World Peace Center " ( not running )

Urban expansion Amsterdam -Zuid - Structure Plan 1915

The district Amsterdam -Zuid (South) has become known in architectural terms for two reasons: on the one hand, by professionally elaborated plan included Berlage and the other by the architecture of the expressionist Amsterdam School ( Michel de Klerk, Piet Kramer and others). Between the Amsterdam architect and the German Avantgarde in Berlin insisted good contacts. From professionals Amsterdam was designated the 1920s as the " Mecca " of modern urban planning. That Berlage in 1928 invited for the first CIAM congress, was a recognition of his urban planning work.

Structure Plan 1915, state of the architectural fillings 1922

Structure Plan 1915 was officially approved in 1917, with fictional arch. fillings

Bird's eye view, between Y-shaped road and Amstel River

Aerial photo at the Y -shaped road, architecture of the Amsterdam School

Amsterdam and Amsterdam -Zuid ( below) in 2011

Historical classification Berlage

Berlage's ideas and works are not isolated phenomena, but must be considered in the context of contemporary international development.

The determining Dutch architect Berlage during initial period was PJH Cuypers. Between him, representatives of an already rationally dominated historicism, and the younger colleague was mutual respect, and Cuypers KPC de Bazel students and Lauweriks dealt partly with issues similar Berlage. In the European context the Austrian Adolf Loos and Josef Hoffmann, the British Charles Voysey and Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Stockholm City Hall by Ragnar Østberg must be referenced.

Berlage saw the United States as the most advanced society of his time, and thus also as a pioneer in artistic terms. His buildings were brought during his lifetime with those of Henry Hobson Richardson U.S. American in connection with the Berlage himself, however, adherence to the historical models criticized (in this case the Romanesque ). Louis Sullivan was nearing, Frank Lloyd Wright was born only thirteen years after Berlage.

Thus the following on Berlage generation of architects has been reached, with the connecting him an ambivalent relationship. In the twenties, Berlage was generally recognized. Architects of Time JJP Oud paid tribute to his achievements as he could with the modern forms of expression ( De Stijl, New Building ... ) but no longer identify, she considered too revolutionary and overly intellectual. The massive brick buildings that inspired his works Amsterdam School, however, he was drawn, although he had to criticize their lack of rationalism.

Founded in 1990 Berlage Institute in Rotterdam is named after him.