Artikelen

• Modern versus Traditioneel. Het materiaalgebruik van de bouwmeesters Cuypers en Tepe

  In the second half of the nineteenth century the mechanized production of building components expanded enormously; there were also drastic innovations in the manufacturing of traditional materials such as brick, mortar, glass, roof tiles and paint materials. Besides, technical progress resulted in the development of a wide range of materials that had never been used before, such as wood cement, concrete, aluminium, asphalt, cast iron, steel and zinc. It is important to make a distinction between on the one hand new materials and on the other hand old materials that were produced or processed in new ways.

  This split is also to be found in the work of two major architects from the neo-Gothic period, a seemingly very traditional movement. In different ways, Alfred Tepe (1840-1920) and P.J.H. (Pierre) Cuypers (1872-1921) both realised ideals inspired by the Middle Ages in their buildings. It is surprising to see that in spite of their ardour to revive the Middle Ages as accurately as possible, such an enormous difference in their views on use of materials arose.

  Tepe's buildings look rather austere because they are almost entirely constructed of brick. Apart from a few, small exceptions Tepe believed in a traditional use of materials. For the saddle roofs he chose a slate covering in a period when roof tiles produced in factories were cheaper. He made the roofs with traditional wood constructions and nearly all his churches have stone (ribbed) vaults. Only in a few places did Tepe opt for a modern material.

  Although his use of materials is austere, his use of colour is not so at all. Practically all Tepe's buildings were realised under the guidance of his source of inspiration Gerardus Wilhelmus van Heukelum (1834-1910) of the St Bernulfus guild. The use of natural stone was not avoided from the start, this was only the case later on in the construction of new churches.

  It seems quite obvious that this is due to the strong influence Van Heukelum had on Tepe. Both gentlemen preferred a pure, honest and Dutch use of materials and Van Heukelum had direct family ties with brick manufacturers in the province of Gelderland.

  With castle De Haar Cuypers could largely realise his ideal image of a medieval lodge comparable to that of the cathedral of Cologne. Cuypers used a wide variety of materials, either in a very traditional or in a very advanced, modern way. Nearly all the materials introduced in the building industry during the nineteenth century are represented in the castle, ranging from granite, terracotta and natural stone to asphalt, (Monier) concrete and iron constructions. The modern materials and construction methods were especially used in the new parts of the castle, where concrete was left visible and imitation natural stone and modern iron constructions were applied.

  Although one would not expect it, the historicizing new construction of the medieval castle itself also contains plenty of concrete. The roof of the Hall of castle De Haar is one of the earliest roofs of Monier concrete in the Netherlands. The modern materials were not just used in exceptional situations such as a private and generously financed restoration, but also for churches, such as St Gummus church in the province of Brabant and for public buildings, such as the Rijksmuseum.

  In the second half of the nineteenth century the mechanized production of building components expanded enormously; there were also drastic innovations in the manufacturing of traditional materials such as brick, mortar, glass, roof tiles and paint materials. Besides, technical progress resulted in the development of a wide range of materials that had never been used before, such as wood cement, concrete, aluminium, asphalt, cast iron, steel and zinc. It is important to make a distinction between on the one hand new materials and on the other hand old materials that were produced or processed in new ways.

  This split is also to be found in the work of two major architects from the neo-Gothic period, a seemingly very traditional movement. In different ways, Alfred Tepe (1840-1920) and P.J.H. (Pierre) Cuypers (1872-1921) both realised ideals inspired by the Middle Ages in their buildings. It is surprising to see that in spite of their ardour to revive the Middle Ages as...

  In the second half of the nineteenth century the mechanized production of building components expanded enormously; there were also drastic innovations in the manufacturing of traditional materials such as brick, mortar, glass, roof tiles and paint materials. Besides, technical progress...

  Macha van Damme

  158-182

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• De restauratie van kasteel De Haar: van droom tot obsessie

  In this article the financing of the building process of castle De Haar in the period between 1891 and 1897 is sketched. This period was important because from the various documents it appears that the plans for the restoration became final in those years. From 1895 the object of the work was to enable the baron and baroness to invite their first guests at their new country estate by the summer of 1897.

  This period was also important because the baron was engaged in a 'war on two fronts'. Not only did he wish to restore his ancestral domain, but also the ruins of castle De Haar. For this purpose the baron had an ample, but not unlimited budget at his disposal. Soon the extent of the work had become so large that the baron fell into an arrears of payment. This increased so much that he was forced to give his newly acquired real estate in pledge as security for various loans so as to be able to pay the day-to-day costs.

  A closer examination of the records suggests that on the one hand the costs were much higher than estimated due to the method used, which was quite normal in the case of complicated buildings, and on the other hand that the baron could not write out cheques unlimitedly.

  In this article the financing of the building process of castle De Haar in the period between 1891 and 1897 is sketched. This period was important because from the various documents it appears that the plans for the restoration became final in those years. From 1895 the object of the work was to enable the baron and baroness to invite their first guests at their new country estate by the summer of 1897.

  This period was also important because the baron was engaged in a 'war on two fronts'. Not only did he wish to restore his ancestral domain, but also the ruins of castle De Haar. For this purpose the baron had an ample, but not unlimited budget at his disposal. Soon the extent of the work had become so large that the baron fell into an arrears of payment. This increased so much that he was forced to give his newly acquired real estate in pledge as security for various loans so as to be able to pay the day-to-day costs.

  A closer examination of the records suggests...

  In this article the financing of the building process of castle De Haar in the period between 1891 and 1897 is sketched. This period was important because from the various documents it appears that the plans for the restoration became final in those years. From 1895 the object of the work was...

  Hugo Landheer

  183-190

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• Manhattan aan de Eem. De ondergang van een stedenbouwkundig project uit 1989

  Amersfoort is a town with roots in the Middle Ages. In the late nineteenth and late twentieth century the town was connected to the national railway network and the European motorway network respectively. In 1982 it became a town designated for expansion.

  The number of inhabitants had to be doubled to 120,000. For the municipal authorities this was an immense task. Additional problems were the historical town centre within a stone's throw from the area covered by the plan, and opposite the railway an area with run-down (chemical) industry and considerable soil pollution.

  The municipal authorities proceeded with energy and made a structural plan to anticipate any speculation. Besides, a public-private organisation was set up, in which all the relevant parties were represented.

  In 1989 the 'Centraal Stadsgebied Amersfoort' development plan (for the city centre area of Amersfoort) was drawn up. This plan met with strong opposition from the population, politics and some physical planners. The national authorities appreciated the broad approach of the total plan and gave financial support. It also became an example for similar plans in the country.

  During the long duration of the plan substantial changes had to be carried out. This was partly due to the dimensional objections from among the population ('Manhattan on the Eem'), but also to the changing economic conditions and the fluctuations in the real-estate market.

  Notably the high-rise buildings and the large-scale projects were levelled down or shelved. The subproject 'Eem quarter' (dealt with in detail in this article) was not executed at all and is still under development now in a fundamentally changed form.

  Amersfoort is a town with roots in the Middle Ages. In the late nineteenth and late twentieth century the town was connected to the national railway network and the European motorway network respectively. In 1982 it became a town designated for expansion.

  The number of inhabitants had to be doubled to 120,000. For the municipal authorities this was an immense task. Additional problems were the historical town centre within a stone's throw from the area covered by the plan, and opposite the railway an area with run-down (chemical) industry and considerable soil pollution.

  The municipal authorities proceeded with energy and made a structural plan to anticipate any speculation. Besides, a public-private organisation was set up, in which all the relevant parties were represented.

  In 1989 the 'Centraal Stadsgebied Amersfoort' development plan (for the city centre area of Amersfoort) was drawn up. This plan met with strong opposition from the population,...

  Amersfoort is a town with roots in the Middle Ages. In the late nineteenth and late twentieth century the town was connected to the national railway network and the European motorway network respectively. In 1982 it became a town designated for expansion.

  The number of inhabitants had...

  Hans van den Heuvel

  191-199

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