socialist grandeur
By the end of the nineteenth century, new buildings on Raadhuisstraat had to meet strict criteria so that this street would become a fully-fledged entrance to the center of Amsterdam.
In 1897 architect Hendrik Berlage was asked to design a block of houses on the corner of Herengracht and Raadhuisstraat. The ground floor was to accommodate four luxury stores.
Berlage, also called the father of modern Dutch architecture, was a socialist at heart, an idealist who wanted to elevate the people with his designs. According to him, art had to express what was going on in society. He wanted to make luxury accessible to ordinary people.
His architectural style is characterized by stylish sobriety. When designing, Berlage approached a new building as a sculpture. In the case of this building at the intersection of Herengracht and Raadhuisstraat, he designed rounded corners, oddly placed windows and a tower as decoration.
Berlage's work has been of great influence on modern architecture. With his designs he helped lay the foundation for the Amsterdam School, a style that combined architecture with socialist ideals.
izi.travel/nl/ac85-klm-huisjes-amsterdam-en-zijn-architec...
socialist grandeur
By the end of the nineteenth century, new buildings on Raadhuisstraat had to meet strict criteria so that this street would become a fully-fledged entrance to the center of Amsterdam.
In 1897 architect Hendrik Berlage was asked to design a block of houses on the corner of Herengracht and Raadhuisstraat. The ground floor was to accommodate four luxury stores.
Berlage, also called the father of modern Dutch architecture, was a socialist at heart, an idealist who wanted to elevate the people with his designs. According to him, art had to express what was going on in society. He wanted to make luxury accessible to ordinary people.
His architectural style is characterized by stylish sobriety. When designing, Berlage approached a new building as a sculpture. In the case of this building at the intersection of Herengracht and Raadhuisstraat, he designed rounded corners, oddly placed windows and a tower as decoration.
Berlage's work has been of great influence on modern architecture. With his designs he helped lay the foundation for the Amsterdam School, a style that combined architecture with socialist ideals.
izi.travel/nl/ac85-klm-huisjes-amsterdam-en-zijn-architec...