Harry Elte - 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 Hartog Elte (03.09.1880 - 01.04.1944), also called Harry Elte, worked mainly for Jewish clients in Amsterdam. After his training as a furniture maker, Harry Elte concentrated on architecture and completed further training as a draughtsman in the evenings. He subsequently worked for various architects. Among others, he worked for his teacher Hendrik Petrus Berlage from 1899 to 1909. After that, Harry Elte began working as an independent architect. At the beginning, his designs were characterised by a strict Art Nouveau style under the influence of Berlage. His later works are attributed to the Amsterdam School. He was able to design several synagogues and villas as well as a football stadium. The aforementioned stadium was the result of a successful competition entry and was located near today's Olympic Stadium. This structure was demolished after the 1928 Olympic Games to make room for flats. His most important building is the synagogue on Jacob Obrechtplein in Amsterdam.

Der niederländische Architekt Hartog Elte (03.09.1880 - 01.04.1944), auch Harry Elte genannt, arbeitete hauptsächlich für jüdische Kunden in Amsterdam. Nach seiner Ausbildung als Möbelmacher konzentrierte sich Harry Elte auf die Architektur und absolvierte abends eine Weiterbildung zum Bauzeichner. In der Folge arbeitete er für verschiedene Architekten. Unter anderem von 1899 bis 1909 für seinen Lehrer Hendrik Petrus Berlage. Danach begann Harry Elte seine Tätigkeit als selbständiger Architekt. Zu Beginn waren seine Entwürfe von einem strengen Jugendstil unter dem Einfluss von Berlage geprägt. Seine späteren Arbeiten werden der Amsterdamer Schule zugeordnet. Er konnte mehrere Synagogen und Villen sowie ein Fussballstadion entwerfen. Das erwähnte Stadion war auf einen erfolgreichen Wettbewerbsbeitrag zurückzufhren, und befand sich in der Nähe des heutigen Olympiastadions. Dieses Bauwerk war nach den Olympischen Spielen 1928 abgebrochen worden, um Platz für Wohnungen zu schaffen. Sein wichtigstes Bauwerk ist die Synagoge am Jacob Obrechtplein in Amsterdam.

1927 - 1928  Synagogue Jacob Obrechtplein, Amsterdam