Willem Marinus Dudok - Netherlands

The two free-standing, tower-like office buildings are among the best-known designs of the Dutch architect Frans van Gool and are located in the immediate vicinity of the Rijksmuseum. In their size, volumetry and contour, the buildings refer to the villas that had previously been on the site. The two buildings are located on the border between the canal zone and the 19th century districts. The two elegant office buildings with up to seven storeys have exposed brick facades. The façades are punctuated by a regular pattern of square windows without subdivision. The total of 312 windows with tinted panes are installed flush with the façade. In this way, the physical appearance of the buildings is emphasised. The controversial buildings became known in 1980 during the debate on the aesthetics of functionalist architecture. Local columnists were very negative about the buildings - only over the years had the criticism gradually subsided.
The Dutch architect Willem Marinus Dudok (06.07.1884 - 06.04.1974) was one of the most influential modern architects of his country. He originally chose a military career and studied civil engineering at the military academy in Breda. Initially, his designs show the influence of Hendrik Petrus Berlage as well as the Amsterdam School. Later, his style is strongly influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright. In particular, he became known for the municipal theatre in Utrecht as well as the town hall in Velsen. In addition, the branch of the De Bijenkorf department stores' in Rotterdam was one of his significant works. This spectacular commercial building design was clearly influenced by the Bauhaus and the de Stijl artists' movement. The building was unfortunately partially destroyed by the German bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940 and during the invasion of the Netherlands. On an international level, Willem Marinus Dudok was able to design the Collège néerlandais in the Cité Universtiaire in Paris, a cultural centre in Baghdad and a cinema in Calcutta.
Willem Marinus Dudok had a great influence in Hilversum, where around 75 buildings based on his designs characterise the cityscape. In Hilversum, Willem Marinus Dudok worked as director of the public utility company from 1915 to 1927. He then worked as Hilversum's town architect until his retirement in 1954. Immediately after his election as city architect in 1928, he was commissioned with the expansion of the city. This task included the design of schools, swimming pools, housing estates as well as parks and gardens. In the process, Willem Marinus Dudok was decisively involved in the Gatenstadt character of Hilversum. This shows the influence of the two pioneers of the garden city movement, Raymond Unwin and Ebenezer Howard.

Der niederländische Architekt Willem Marinus Dudok (06.07.1884 - 06.04.1974) zählte zu den massgebenden modernen Architekten seines Landes. Ursprünglich hatte er sich für eine militärische Laufbahn entschieden und studierte Bauingenieurwesen an der Militärakademie von Breda. Anfänglich zeigen seine Entwürfe den Einfluss von Hendrik Petrus Berlage sowie der Amsterdamer Schule. Später wird sein Stil stark von Frank Lloyd Wright beeinflusst. Insbesondere wurde er bekannt für das Stadttheater in Utrecht sowie das Rathaus in Velsen. Zudem gehörte die Filiale des Kaufhauses De Bijenkorf in Rotterdam zu seinen bedeutenden Werken. Dieser spektakuläre Geschäftshaus-Entwurf war deutlich geprägt vom Einfluss des Bauhauses und der Künstlerbewegung de Stijl. Das Gebäude wurde unglücklicherweise durch die deutsche Bombardierung Rotterdams im Mai 1940 und während der Invasion in den Niederlanden teilweise zerstört. Auf internationaler Ebene konnte Willem Marinus Dudok das Collège néerlandais in der Cité Universtiaire in Paris, ein Kulturzentrum in Bagdad und ein Kino in Kalkutta entwerfen.
Grossen Einfluss hatte Willem Marinus Dudok in Hilversum, wo rund 75 Gebäude nach seinen Entwürfen das Stadtbild prägen. In Hilversum war Willem Marinus Dudok von 1915 bis 1927 als Direktor der Stadtwerke tätig. Danach arbeitete er bis zu seiner Pensionierung im Jahr 1954 als Stadtarchitekt von Hilversum. Unmittelbar nach seiner Wahl zum Stadtarchitekten 1928 wurde er mit der Erweiterung der Stadt beauftragt. Diese Aufgabe umfasste die Gestaltung von Schulen, Schwimmbädern, Wohnsiedlungen sowie Parks und Gärten. Dabei war Willem Marinus Dudok entschiedend am Gatenstadtcharakter von Hilversum beteiligt. Hierin zeigt sich der Einfluss der beiden Pioniere der Gartenstadtbewegung, Raymond Unwin und Ebenezer Howard.

1938 - 1939  Office Tower "Erasmushuis", Rotterdam
1942 - 1952  Office Building De Nederlanden Van 1845, Rotterdam