The influence of the Amsterdam School on contemporary building

In 2016, we celebrate the centenary of the Amsterdam School. The social housing projects designed by the Amsterdam School rank among the highpoints of Dutch architecture and can be admired throughout the city. ARCAM, Amsterdam’s center for architecture, is staging a photo exhibition examining the influence of the Amsterdam School on contemporary architecture and urban design.

The choice of the Amsterdam School architects for brick and ornament, for the facade as means of expression and the housing block as a key urban design feature, combine to form a public statement. Today, we are seeing a revaluation of these design choices in materials, architecture, and urban design development. In ‘100 Years of Inspiration’ we present ten distinctive projects recently completed in Amsterdam that reveal visible affinities with the Amsterdam School.

– Tugelawegblokken (M3H, Machiel Spaan and Marc Reniers with AtelierNL)
– Noorderparkbad (de Architekten Cie, Branimir Medic and Pero Puljiz with Hugo Kaagman)
– Polderweg Oostpoort (heren 5 architecten, Jan Klomp and Merijn de Jong with artist Stefan Glerum)
– Kraaipan (Architectenbureau Hoogeveen, Arjen Hoogeveen)
– Piraeus (Hans Kollhoff met Christian Rapp)
– Island 3 and 14 bridges at Houthaven, one of Amsterdam’s former harbor areas currently being transformed into a new urban residential development.  (VHArch, Thijs Verburg and artist Paul de Kort)
– Oostpoort (Molenaar & Co architecten, Joris Molenaar)
– Brede School Houthaven (Marlies Rohmer Architects & Urbanists, Marlies Rohmer)
– Olympisch Kwartier (Rudy Uytenhaak Architectenbureau, Rudy Uytenhaak)
– Van Tijenbuurt – Blok van Dok (Dok Architecten, Liesbeth van der Pol)

You are cordally invited to the opening of the exhibition on Thursday 14 April at 4pm!

100 Years of the Amsterdam School
The explosion of energy, creativity, new forms and innovative materials in early twentieth century Amsterdam culminated in 1916 with the opening of the prestigious Shipping House, now the Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam. This was when the movement gained its name: the Amsterdam School. The housing associations and architects involved were united in a common goal: to build attractive, quality housing for Amsterdam’s working classes. The numerous commissions from housing associations for social housing projects enabled the Amsterdam School to flourish, and established its reputation in the Netherlands and internationally.

In 2016, a number of Amsterdam’s cultural institutions and housing associations are celebrating the centenary of the Amsterdam School with exhibitions and activities. A website has been launched with a calendar of events planned by the Amsterdam School Museum ‘Het Schip’, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Architectuurcentrum Amsterdam, Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam and the Monuments and Archaeology unit of the city of Amsterdam. A route map showing the most important Amsterdam School buildings is also available if you’d like to explore the city by bike or on foot. The centenary year will officially be launched to the press on 24 February 2016.

For more information, see www.100jaaramsterdamseschool.