Artikelen

• Holland op zijn hoogst

  The hereafter following has been pronounced on the symposium 'Holland at its Highest' organized by the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands. 'As you all know the title of this symposium is a paraphrase on the title of one of the most legendary publications from the Dutch history of art: 'Holland and its Narrowest'. The author Victor Eugène Louis de Stuers not only was a historian of art and publicist but also a caricaturist. Denouncing the decay and neglect of Dutch monuments in 1873 he described both municipality and church government as 'boundless vandals' responsible for the 'corrosive cancer' with which he meant the decay of our cultural heritage. The major part of the people consisted of culture barbarians, whose daily reading-matter was the stock-exchange quotation besides cancelling every service of each budget which did not end with a credit balance. Thus 'Holland at its Narrowest' is one great caricature and one great accusation at the same time.

  Before l re-read De Stuers' article in view of to-day, in view of 'Holland at its Highest', l swore to myself not to use this article to show that some parts of this phenomenal discourse still are valid to-day. However, the Dutch cultural climate still is being controlled by the tangible reality of credit balance. One of the reasons for De Stuers flaming accusation, the care for the individual monument, largely has been solved. The pursuit of the credit balance is the real threat of our cultural heritage. This pursuit is being dominated by the prey full of golden eggs, the 'top-location'. The top-location is the phantom of our fin-du- siècle. Architecture and town-planning respond to fluctuation in prices just like a mammoth tanker. With endless delay. The profession of town-planning actually does not exist anymore in our country. Art, culture, the instinct of the beautiful and the sublime, the acknowledgement of the moral and humanitarian benefit, also words of De Stuers, these abstract sensitive characteristics which provide architecture and town-planning with real value do not matter anymore.

  The contemporary conception of architecture and town-planning misses the cultural component and consequently the historical continuity which is part of that cultural component. Architecture and town-planning have been subordinated to the credit balance, to politics and to bureaucracy. The predominating anonymous design-culture of aluminium and plate-glass does not deserve the name of architecture anymore but every municipality yields to this 'architecture' longing to be taken for modern and economically prosperous. This architecture does not care about the past, the urban context, let alone eternity. Victor de Stuers' recommendations to the at the time reigning government are still valid today. This vandalism has to be restrained by the authorities and the entire nation.

  The hereafter following has been pronounced on the symposium 'Holland at its Highest' organized by the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands. 'As you all know the title of this symposium is a paraphrase on the title of one of the most legendary publications from the Dutch history of art: 'Holland and its Narrowest'. The author Victor Eugène Louis de Stuers not only was a historian of art and publicist but also a caricaturist. Denouncing the decay and neglect of Dutch monuments in 1873 he described both municipality and church government as 'boundless vandals' responsible for the 'corrosive cancer' with which he meant the decay of our cultural heritage. The major part of the people consisted of culture barbarians, whose daily reading-matter was the stock-exchange quotation besides cancelling every service of each budget which did not end with a credit balance. Thus 'Holland at its Narrowest' is one great caricature and one...

  The hereafter following has been pronounced on the symposium 'Holland at its Highest' organized by the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands. 'As you all know the title of this symposium is a paraphrase on the title of one of the most...

  Max J.M. van Rooy

  2-3

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• Het kantoorgebouw van het electriciteitsgebouw te Rotterdam

  The office building of the Municipal Electricity Service at Rotterdam is the first concrete working-out of the Dutch striving after multi-storey buildings and framed constructions in particular. Since the building will lose its original function this article makes researches into the meaning of this office to Rotterdam's history of modern architecture and town-planning in the period 1920-'40.

  From 1907 on several plans have been conceived to provide the Electricity Service with a suitable housing. The municipal regulation prohibited the proposal (1919) to construct a multi-storey building in the historical centre. The design for a five-storey building with annexes (1923) inspired Burgomaster and Aldermen to agree with the erection of a new office building elsewhere in town.

  A proposal of director H.H. Ehrenburg to utilize a site on the Rochussenstreet, which offered excellent conditions to multi-storey building both and a good situation with respect to the centre finally was chosen as most suitable site to build the new office. This new location formed part of the plan for extension by Ir. W. G. Witteveen.

  The plan occupied a transitional area between the old and the new town destined to erect all sorts of public buildings. Witteveen planned the office building of the Electricity Service as a striking 'skyscraper' to close the development of this area. The official map (1926) already represents the suggested shape of the building. The design served as a model to the series of office buildings on the Rochussenstreet's southern side as well.

  Architect Johannes Poot of the Building Department of Municipal Works (Witteveen was head of this department) was charged with the construction of the new office in 1926. Both municipality and town council chose a fast way of construction by means of the American steel-skeleton system. The plan as presented to the town council shows two separated building blocks. The administrative section housed in a multi-storey building with eleven floors and the strongly horizontal storehouse comprised five floors with a total height of 21 metres.

  Witteveen's study tour to Cologne where he had a look at the 'Hochhaus' by J. Koerfer (1924-25) and American examples of skyscrapers reaching Europe in architectural reviews gave rise to the construction of the skeleton in concrete instead of steel. The specification of 1928 shows more constructive unity by an equal articulation of both main buildings. The definitive plan of 1929 enheightens the tower with two floors. Walls and supports have been worked up with natural stone and metal.

  On the 14th of September 1931 the - at the time extremely expensive - new office building for the Municipal Electricity Service could be put into use officially. In the years after delivery the importance of the building certainly was being recognized. Although building techniques in Holland were not developed as far as elsewhere in Europe Witteveen and Poot succeeded in the realization of a building with modern construction- methods. Lines of demarcation with later representatives of the architectural trend of New Building can hardly be drawn.

  The office building of the Municipal Electricity Service at Rotterdam is the first concrete working-out of the Dutch striving after multi-storey buildings and framed constructions in particular. Since the building will lose its original function this article makes researches into the meaning of this office to Rotterdam's history of modern architecture and town-planning in the period 1920-'40.

  From 1907 on several plans have been conceived to provide the Electricity Service with a suitable housing. The municipal regulation prohibited the proposal (1919) to construct a multi-storey building in the historical centre. The design for a five-storey building with annexes (1923) inspired Burgomaster and Aldermen to agree with the erection of a new office building elsewhere in town.

  A proposal of director H.H. Ehrenburg to utilize a site on the Rochussenstreet, which offered excellent conditions to multi-storey building both and a good situation with respect to the centre...

  The office building of the Municipal Electricity Service at Rotterdam is the first concrete working-out of the Dutch striving after multi-storey buildings and framed constructions in particular. Since the building will lose its original function this article makes researches into the meaning...

  P. Kalsbeek

  4-7

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• P.H.J. Cuypers' bemoeienis met de gebrandschilderde ramen van de O.L. Vrouwekerk te Dordrecht

  Restoring the Church of Our Lady at Dordrecht in 1903 Jos.Th.J. Cuypers and town-architect H.W. Veth provided every window with stone tracery and montants again. The stained-glass which had been removed with most of the traceries during the 17th and 18th centuries was renewed as well. The general activities on the choir's both and the chapels' window-panes continually proceeded in consultation with the Government Committee which functioned as an independent consultative council to the Minister of the Interior.

  Dr. P. J. H. Cuypers being an important member of this committee this article makes researches into his influence on the choice of style and subject of these stained-glass windows. In the choir geometrically set up floral motifs and symbols of professions contrast sharply with the luxuriant intertwined leafs and tendrils in Dutch Art Nouveau style. Cuypers disapproved of the windows with the abstract rigid design (1903-04) because they were lacking in the simplicity and colour range of their medieval predecessors.

  The stained-glass windows in the Choir of Our Lady show stylistic differences as well. Designed by H. Veldhuis and executed by J.L. Schouten the three windowpanes in the Chapel of Jerusalem (1909) represent events from Dordrecht's history in a historizing-eclectic way after 16th/17th century paintings. Cuypers severely criticized subject and style as unfit to the history of the church which criticism was opposed by the chairman of the Restoration-committee Mr. J.C. Overvoorde.

  Cuypers being in favour of the mosaic-like character of the 12th and 13th century art of glass-painting, a note by J.L. Schouten, defends the picturesque appearance of these windows comparing them with the beautiful 16th century window-panes in the Church of St. John at Gouda which also describe monumental historical events. The same discussion reflects the argumentation on the choice of subject and style at a Protestant and a Catholic church.

  Cuypers considering transparency and decorativeness the most important characteristics of the art of glass-painting very much rejected their colour range and representations because they did not harmonize with the 15th century monument they had to adorn and complete. The artist has to adjust himself to the style of the monument in order to acquire harmony.

  Therefore the stained-glass windows of 1912 show a completely different style. Again designed by H. Veldhuis and executed by J.L. Schouten the window-panes in the Chapel of Meerdervoort show central themes of the life of Christ with appropriate symbolism and cross references to texts. Influenced by the oeuvre of contemporary Symbolists the medieval style of these window-panes has been stylized by geometrical forms and abstract elements.

  The window-pane in the Chapel of St. Pancras (1914) was designed by Cuypers himself although the execution rested with J.L. Schouten again. The confrontation of Pancratius with the Roman emperor has been represented within a classical setting which contrasts remarkably with the architectural framing of medieval motifs designed to harmonize with the building's style. The classical elements, the style and spatial illusion are highly representative to the - at the time already conventional - 19th century art of glass-painting.

  Thus the conflicting opinions and following choices and actions by Cuypers, Overvoerde and Schouten reflect Dutch problemacy on the art of glass-painting of about 1910. While discussion focused on the choice of the medieval, 16th/17th century or modern style results finally also show the confrontation of an elder and a younger generation both mostly following their own personal taste.

  Restoring the Church of Our Lady at Dordrecht in 1903 Jos.Th.J. Cuypers and town-architect H.W. Veth provided every window with stone tracery and montants again. The stained-glass which had been removed with most of the traceries during the 17th and 18th centuries was renewed as well. The general activities on the choir's both and the chapels' window-panes continually proceeded in consultation with the Government Committee which functioned as an independent consultative council to the Minister of the Interior.

  Dr. P. J. H. Cuypers being an important member of this committee this article makes researches into his influence on the choice of style and subject of these stained-glass windows. In the choir geometrically set up floral motifs and symbols of professions contrast sharply with the luxuriant intertwined leafs and tendrils in Dutch Art Nouveau style. Cuypers disapproved of the windows with the abstract rigid design (1903-04) because they were lacking in the simplicity...

  Restoring the Church of Our Lady at Dordrecht in 1903 Jos.Th.J. Cuypers and town-architect H.W. Veth provided every window with stone tracery and montants again. The stained-glass which had been removed with most of the traceries during the 17th and 18th centuries was renewed as well. The...

  M.E. Stades-Vischer

  8-15

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• Historische continuïteit en stadsontwikkeling (bijdragen aan de KNOB-studiedag 'Holland op zijn hoogst'): Op de hoogte langs het IJ

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their surroundings. Quite often urban renewal degenerates into an instrument of municipal prestige. In pursuance of this problem the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands organized the symposium 'Holland at its highest; Historical continuity and town development'.

  The invited orators represented several disciplines. Critic of architecture Max van Rooy (see: Max J.M. van Rooy, ‘Holland at its Highest’ in this number) made a comparison with the 19th century fin-du- siècle. The 'pursuit of credit balance', controlled by the 'pursuit of the top location' still determines Dutch architecture and town-planning. Only public policy can make the 'cultural component' part of the urban context again.

  Also immovables-developer A. Kuyvenhoven mentioned this public policy as extremely important at the economical revitalization of urban areas. One has to consider many aspects like the market of immovables, urban economy and urban context. Toplocations do not come into being 'just like that'. To reassure a responsible town-planning as well as a socially acceptable solution the municipality must bring common interests into line with the individual wishes of the future user of a building.

  Town-planning consultant H.A.F. Smook described a serious lack of architectural creativeness in and close to the historical inner part of town. Are there still other forms than high-rise blocks? The historical centre, having of old only a restricted number of economical functions, one cannot let functional or economical continuity have priority over historical continuity. To prevent destruction of the inner part of town's historical quality functions should be adapted to the extant urban structure instead. Quite often the town-planner stresses architectural form rather than a good urban structure. Absolutely wrong! The town in her entirety and not the separate building must be spectacular.

  To think and to speak with marketing-terms of project development surely is dangerous to quality. But why stick to old values stated professor Architecture and Town-planning Tj. Dijkstra. To reject new cultural impulses in the form of high-rise blocks close to the historical inner part of town cannot but lead to a 'mediocre quality-level'. Rather than arguing about terms of measure and scale it is necessary to analyse an area's characteristics in relation to the surrounding parts of town carefully. The municipality must watch over this carefulness at the plan's execution.

  According to protector of monuments C.J. van Haaften is the 'small-scaled process or urban renewal' the most important characteristic of the historical inner part of town. Preservation of this process demands an integration of the protection of monuments into the field of area planning. The protection of monuments has to handle a sort of classification and selection aiming at the forefront both and historical developments behind that facade. The municipality can direct area planning by means of analysis of this material.

  Government-planner S. Buys stated that town development with respect for the past must be directed to the preservation of commercial and administrative functions primarily. The continuity of the urban structure and separate buildings are of less importance; without economical prosperity a historical inner part of town changes into an 'open-air museum'. One of the main conclusions of this symposium is that 'true' architecture and town-planning arise from a coherence of factors and several disciplines. The separate monument belongs to an urban ensemble. On the other hand town-planner and municipality have to accept the circumstance of the historically grown inner part of town. A one-sided, mainly technical approach cannot be but too confined. The architect or town-planner with respect for the social and urban context will deliver a design as various as the historically grown town herself and might even use historical connotations. The town is there. The new has to come into being not in tension with but in dialogue with the extant. And the government is there for administration and delegation.

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their surroundings. Quite often urban renewal degenerates into an instrument of municipal prestige. In pursuance of this problem the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands organized the symposium 'Holland at its highest; Historical continuity and town development'.

  The invited orators represented several disciplines. Critic of architecture Max van Rooy (see: Max J.M. van Rooy, ‘Holland at its Highest’ in this number) made a comparison with the 19th century fin-du- siècle. The 'pursuit of credit balance', controlled by the 'pursuit of the top location' still determines Dutch architecture and town-planning. Only public policy can make the...

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their...

  Tjeerd Dijkstra

  16-17

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• Historische continuïteit en stadsontwikkeling (bijdragen aan de KNOB-studiedag 'Holland op zijn hoogst'): Megalomanie van de kleinburgerlijkheid of losbandig conceptueel denken in de Nederlandse stedebouw

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their surroundings. Quite often urban renewal degenerates into an instrument of municipal prestige. In pursuance of this problem the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands organized the symposium 'Holland at its highest; Historical continuity and town development'.

  The invited orators represented several disciplines. Critic of architecture Max van Rooy (see: Max J.M. van Rooy, ‘Holland at its Highest’ in this number) made a comparison with the 19th century fin-du- siècle. The 'pursuit of credit balance', controlled by the 'pursuit of the top location' still determines Dutch architecture and town-planning. Only public policy can make the 'cultural component' part of the urban context again.

  Also immovables-developer A. Kuyvenhoven mentioned this public policy as extremely important at the economical revitalization of urban areas. One has to consider many aspects like the market of immovables, urban economy and urban context. Toplocations do not come into being 'just like that'. To reassure a responsible town-planning as well as a socially acceptable solution the municipality must bring common interests into line with the individual wishes of the future user of a building.

  Town-planning consultant H.A.F. Smook described a serious lack of architectural creativeness in and close to the historical inner part of town. Are there still other forms than high-rise blocks? The historical centre, having of old only a restricted number of economical functions, one cannot let functional or economical continuity have priority over historical continuity. To prevent destruction of the inner part of town's historical quality functions should be adapted to the extant urban structure instead. Quite often the town-planner stresses architectural form rather than a good urban structure. Absolutely wrong! The town in her entirety and not the separate building must be spectacular.

  To think and to speak with marketing-terms of project development surely is dangerous to quality. But why stick to old values stated professor Architecture and Town-planning Tj. Dijkstra. To reject new cultural impulses in the form of high-rise blocks close to the historical inner part of town cannot but lead to a 'mediocre quality-level'. Rather than arguing about terms of measure and scale it is necessary to analyse an area's characteristics in relation to the surrounding parts of town carefully. The municipality must watch over this carefulness at the plan's execution.

  According to protector of monuments C.J. van Haaften is the 'small-scaled process or urban renewal' the most important characteristic of the historical inner part of town. Preservation of this process demands an integration of the protection of monuments into the field of area planning. The protection of monuments has to handle a sort of classification and selection aiming at the forefront both and historical developments behind that facade. The municipality can direct area planning by means of analysis of this material.

  Government-planner S. Buys stated that town development with respect for the past must be directed to the preservation of commercial and administrative functions primarily. The continuity of the urban structure and separate buildings are of less importance; without economical prosperity a historical inner part of town changes into an 'open-air museum'. One of the main conclusions of this symposium is that 'true' architecture and town-planning arise from a coherence of factors and several disciplines. The separate monument belongs to an urban ensemble. On the other hand town-planner and municipality have to accept the circumstance of the historically grown inner part of town. A one-sided, mainly technical approach cannot be but too confined. The architect or town-planner with respect for the social and urban context will deliver a design as various as the historically grown town herself and might even use historical connotations. The town is there. The new has to come into being not in tension with but in dialogue with the extant. And the government is there for administration and delegation.

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their surroundings. Quite often urban renewal degenerates into an instrument of municipal prestige. In pursuance of this problem the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands organized the symposium 'Holland at its highest; Historical continuity and town development'.

  The invited orators represented several disciplines. Critic of architecture Max van Rooy (see: Max J.M. van Rooy, ‘Holland at its Highest’ in this number) made a comparison with the 19th century fin-du- siècle. The 'pursuit of credit balance', controlled by the 'pursuit of the top location' still determines Dutch architecture and town-planning. Only public policy can make the...

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their...

  Rudger A.F. Smook

  17-18

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• Historische continuïteit en stadsontwikkeling (bijdragen aan de KNOB-studiedag 'Holland op zijn hoogst'): Historische continuïteit versus functionele continuïteit

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their surroundings. Quite often urban renewal degenerates into an instrument of municipal prestige. In pursuance of this problem the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands organized the symposium 'Holland at its highest; Historical continuity and town development'.

  The invited orators represented several disciplines. Critic of architecture Max van Rooy (see: Max J.M. van Rooy, ‘Holland at its Highest’ in this number) made a comparison with the 19th century fin-du- siècle. The 'pursuit of credit balance', controlled by the 'pursuit of the top location' still determines Dutch architecture and town-planning. Only public policy can make the 'cultural component' part of the urban context again.

  Also immovables-developer A. Kuyvenhoven mentioned this public policy as extremely important at the economical revitalization of urban areas. One has to consider many aspects like the market of immovables, urban economy and urban context. Toplocations do not come into being 'just like that'. To reassure a responsible town-planning as well as a socially acceptable solution the municipality must bring common interests into line with the individual wishes of the future user of a building.

  Town-planning consultant H.A.F. Smook described a serious lack of architectural creativeness in and close to the historical inner part of town. Are there still other forms than high-rise blocks? The historical centre, having of old only a restricted number of economical functions, one cannot let functional or economical continuity have priority over historical continuity. To prevent destruction of the inner part of town's historical quality functions should be adapted to the extant urban structure instead. Quite often the town-planner stresses architectural form rather than a good urban structure. Absolutely wrong! The town in her entirety and not the separate building must be spectacular.

  To think and to speak with marketing-terms of project development surely is dangerous to quality. But why stick to old values stated professor Architecture and Town-planning Tj. Dijkstra. To reject new cultural impulses in the form of high-rise blocks close to the historical inner part of town cannot but lead to a 'mediocre quality-level'. Rather than arguing about terms of measure and scale it is necessary to analyse an area's characteristics in relation to the surrounding parts of town carefully. The municipality must watch over this carefulness at the plan's execution.

  According to protector of monuments C.J. van Haaften is the 'small-scaled process or urban renewal' the most important characteristic of the historical inner part of town. Preservation of this process demands an integration of the protection of monuments into the field of area planning. The protection of monuments has to handle a sort of classification and selection aiming at the forefront both and historical developments behind that facade. The municipality can direct area planning by means of analysis of this material.

  Government-planner S. Buys stated that town development with respect for the past must be directed to the preservation of commercial and administrative functions primarily. The continuity of the urban structure and separate buildings are of less importance; without economical prosperity a historical inner part of town changes into an 'open-air museum'. One of the main conclusions of this symposium is that 'true' architecture and town-planning arise from a coherence of factors and several disciplines. The separate monument belongs to an urban ensemble. On the other hand town-planner and municipality have to accept the circumstance of the historically grown inner part of town. A one-sided, mainly technical approach cannot be but too confined. The architect or town-planner with respect for the social and urban context will deliver a design as various as the historically grown town herself and might even use historical connotations. The town is there. The new has to come into being not in tension with but in dialogue with the extant. And the government is there for administration and delegation.

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their surroundings. Quite often urban renewal degenerates into an instrument of municipal prestige. In pursuance of this problem the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands organized the symposium 'Holland at its highest; Historical continuity and town development'.

  The invited orators represented several disciplines. Critic of architecture Max van Rooy (see: Max J.M. van Rooy, ‘Holland at its Highest’ in this number) made a comparison with the 19th century fin-du- siècle. The 'pursuit of credit balance', controlled by the 'pursuit of the top location' still determines Dutch architecture and town-planning. Only public policy can make the...

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their...

  Steef C. Buijs

  20-22

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• Historische continuïteit en stadsontwikkeling (bijdragen aan de KNOB-studiedag 'Holland op zijn hoogst'): Historische structuuranalyse als deel van het ruimtelijk beleid

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their surroundings. Quite often urban renewal degenerates into an instrument of municipal prestige. In pursuance of this problem the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands organized the symposium 'Holland at its highest; Historical continuity and town development'.

  The invited orators represented several disciplines. Critic of architecture Max van Rooy (see: Max J.M. van Rooy, ‘Holland at its Highest’ in this number) made a comparison with the 19th century fin-du- siècle. The 'pursuit of credit balance', controlled by the 'pursuit of the top location' still determines Dutch architecture and town-planning. Only public policy can make the 'cultural component' part of the urban context again.

  Also immovables-developer A. Kuyvenhoven mentioned this public policy as extremely important at the economical revitalization of urban areas. One has to consider many aspects like the market of immovables, urban economy and urban context. Toplocations do not come into being 'just like that'. To reassure a responsible town-planning as well as a socially acceptable solution the municipality must bring common interests into line with the individual wishes of the future user of a building.

  Town-planning consultant H.A.F. Smook described a serious lack of architectural creativeness in and close to the historical inner part of town. Are there still other forms than high-rise blocks? The historical centre, having of old only a restricted number of economical functions, one cannot let functional or economical continuity have priority over historical continuity. To prevent destruction of the inner part of town's historical quality functions should be adapted to the extant urban structure instead. Quite often the town-planner stresses architectural form rather than a good urban structure. Absolutely wrong! The town in her entirety and not the separate building must be spectacular.

  To think and to speak with marketing-terms of project development surely is dangerous to quality. But why stick to old values stated professor Architecture and Town-planning Tj. Dijkstra. To reject new cultural impulses in the form of high-rise blocks close to the historical inner part of town cannot but lead to a 'mediocre quality-level'. Rather than arguing about terms of measure and scale it is necessary to analyse an area's characteristics in relation to the surrounding parts of town carefully. The municipality must watch over this carefulness at the plan's execution.

  According to protector of monuments C.J. van Haaften is the 'small-scaled process or urban renewal' the most important characteristic of the historical inner part of town. Preservation of this process demands an integration of the protection of monuments into the field of area planning. The protection of monuments has to handle a sort of classification and selection aiming at the forefront both and historical developments behind that facade. The municipality can direct area planning by means of analysis of this material.

  Government-planner S. Buys stated that town development with respect for the past must be directed to the preservation of commercial and administrative functions primarily. The continuity of the urban structure and separate buildings are of less importance; without economical prosperity a historical inner part of town changes into an 'open-air museum'. One of the main conclusions of this symposium is that 'true' architecture and town-planning arise from a coherence of factors and several disciplines. The separate monument belongs to an urban ensemble. On the other hand town-planner and municipality have to accept the circumstance of the historically grown inner part of town. A one-sided, mainly technical approach cannot be but too confined. The architect or town-planner with respect for the social and urban context will deliver a design as various as the historically grown town herself and might even use historical connotations. The town is there. The new has to come into being not in tension with but in dialogue with the extant. And the government is there for administration and delegation.

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their surroundings. Quite often urban renewal degenerates into an instrument of municipal prestige. In pursuance of this problem the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands organized the symposium 'Holland at its highest; Historical continuity and town development'.

  The invited orators represented several disciplines. Critic of architecture Max van Rooy (see: Max J.M. van Rooy, ‘Holland at its Highest’ in this number) made a comparison with the 19th century fin-du- siècle. The 'pursuit of credit balance', controlled by the 'pursuit of the top location' still determines Dutch architecture and town-planning. Only public policy can make the...

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their...

  Claes Joris van Haaften

  23

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• Historische continuïteit en stadsontwikkeling (bijdragen aan de KNOB-studiedag 'Holland op zijn hoogst'): Onroerend goed - erfgoed

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their surroundings. Quite often urban renewal degenerates into an instrument of municipal prestige. In pursuance of this problem the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands organized the symposium 'Holland at its highest; Historical continuity and town development'.

  The invited orators represented several disciplines. Critic of architecture Max van Rooy (see: Max J.M. van Rooy, ‘Holland at its Highest’ in this number) made a comparison with the 19th century fin-du- siècle. The 'pursuit of credit balance', controlled by the 'pursuit of the top location' still determines Dutch architecture and town-planning. Only public policy can make the 'cultural component' part of the urban context again.

  Also immovables-developer A. Kuyvenhoven mentioned this public policy as extremely important at the economical revitalization of urban areas. One has to consider many aspects like the market of immovables, urban economy and urban context. Toplocations do not come into being 'just like that'. To reassure a responsible town-planning as well as a socially acceptable solution the municipality must bring common interests into line with the individual wishes of the future user of a building.

  Town-planning consultant H.A.F. Smook described a serious lack of architectural creativeness in and close to the historical inner part of town. Are there still other forms than high-rise blocks? The historical centre, having of old only a restricted number of economical functions, one cannot let functional or economical continuity have priority over historical continuity. To prevent destruction of the inner part of town's historical quality functions should be adapted to the extant urban structure instead. Quite often the town-planner stresses architectural form rather than a good urban structure. Absolutely wrong! The town in her entirety and not the separate building must be spectacular.

  To think and to speak with marketing-terms of project development surely is dangerous to quality. But why stick to old values stated professor Architecture and Town-planning Tj. Dijkstra. To reject new cultural impulses in the form of high-rise blocks close to the historical inner part of town cannot but lead to a 'mediocre quality-level'. Rather than arguing about terms of measure and scale it is necessary to analyse an area's characteristics in relation to the surrounding parts of town carefully. The municipality must watch over this carefulness at the plan's execution.

  According to protector of monuments C.J. van Haaften is the 'small-scaled process or urban renewal' the most important characteristic of the historical inner part of town. Preservation of this process demands an integration of the protection of monuments into the field of area planning. The protection of monuments has to handle a sort of classification and selection aiming at the forefront both and historical developments behind that facade. The municipality can direct area planning by means of analysis of this material.

  Government-planner S. Buys stated that town development with respect for the past must be directed to the preservation of commercial and administrative functions primarily. The continuity of the urban structure and separate buildings are of less importance; without economical prosperity a historical inner part of town changes into an 'open-air museum'. One of the main conclusions of this symposium is that 'true' architecture and town-planning arise from a coherence of factors and several disciplines. The separate monument belongs to an urban ensemble. On the other hand town-planner and municipality have to accept the circumstance of the historically grown inner part of town. A one-sided, mainly technical approach cannot be but too confined. The architect or town-planner with respect for the social and urban context will deliver a design as various as the historically grown town herself and might even use historical connotations. The town is there. The new has to come into being not in tension with but in dialogue with the extant. And the government is there for administration and delegation.

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their surroundings. Quite often urban renewal degenerates into an instrument of municipal prestige. In pursuance of this problem the Section Architecture and Town-planning of the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands organized the symposium 'Holland at its highest; Historical continuity and town development'.

  The invited orators represented several disciplines. Critic of architecture Max van Rooy (see: Max J.M. van Rooy, ‘Holland at its Highest’ in this number) made a comparison with the 19th century fin-du- siècle. The 'pursuit of credit balance', controlled by the 'pursuit of the top location' still determines Dutch architecture and town-planning. Only public policy can make the...

  For some time now the Royal Antiquarian Society of the Netherlands follows with great concern the large-scales urban renewal projects as these are carried out in numerous Dutch towns. These projects are a serious threat to the charm and intimacy of our historical inner towns and their...

  A. Kuyvenhoven

  18-20

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