Open Structures an Introductory Dossier on Dutch Structuralism [

Dutch Structuralism represents one of the most important moments in the development of twentieth-century architecture in the Netherlands, whether one cherishes its humanist and overall cultural ambitions or criticizes it for being an architecture of good intentions. The succeeding pages are a collection of ideas and possibilities aiming to introduce Dutch Structuralism to the next generation of architects and urban designers, as well as to expand its potential relevance for contemporary architectural practice and thinking. A supplement to Volume 35: Everything Under Control, this introductory dossier is a collaboration between the Delft University of Technology’s Architecture Open Structures Department and the Berlage Center for Advanced Studies in Architecture and An Introductory Urban Design, and The New Institute. Dossier on Dutch Structuralism [ 1 ] Piet Blom relation to constantly fluctuating circum- houses the NAI and its archives, and stances – that the new Berlage Center Volume magazine – it aims for a global for Advanced Studies in Architecture and exchange of established traditions and Urban Design at the Delft University of experiences acquired from institutions, Technology initiated this publication. as well as for the worldwide distribution Continuing the legacy of the former of Dutch expertise about the built envi- Rotterdam-based Berlage Institute – a ronment. groundbreaking educational-cultural plat- Now more than ever, it’s vital for the form for study, encounter, and debate discipline to open up to new ideas, histor- that operated from 1990 to 2012 – The ical experience, and shifting paradigms Berlage today aims to open up questions that may radically transform the built en- that are relevant for the contemporary vironment in this time of crisis. It is the discipline, expanding the university con- aim of The Berlage to continue structur- text to a broader international audience. ing a unique environment for educational The former Berlage Institute closed its experimentation, one that prepares the doors in 2012 after twenty-two success- figure of the architect to imagine tomor- ful years following the parliamentary and row’s future. Introduction ministerial decision to cease funding for all post-academic institutions within the Netherlands. The Berlage continues the Salomon Frausto Institute’s mission to create a learning environment for students to test and Structuralism does not withdraw communicate models, insights, and prin- history from the world: it seeks to ciples focusing on architectural, urban, link to history not only certain con- and landscape issues. tents (this has been done a thousand Dutch architecture culture has never times) but also certain forms, not only limited itself to local issues; in fact, its the material but also the intelligible, innovation has always been founded on not only the ideological but also the an international outlook. As the building aesthetic. process becomes increasingly complex, – Roland Barthes, The Structuralist ambitious, and global, The Berlage sees Activity the challenge for architectural education today as the opportunity to directly en- The current economic crisis has in- gage with these transformations. At the creasingly left numerous buildings aban- same time, it aims to develop new types doned throughout the world. From va- of architectural knowledge based on in- cant office space in the Netherlands to novative forms of collaboration between post-industrialized urban sites in China, architects, designers, planners, citizens, the opportunity to rethink the reuse and politicians, and institutions. transformation of the millions of square The Berlage’s Open Structures mas- meters of available building stock is not terclass, held in autumn of 2012 and led only a major task for today’s architects by Herman Hertzberger with Tom Aver- and urban designers but it also affords maete and Dirk van den Heuvel, serves them the opportunity to find alternative as the point of departure for this publi- methods of design practice. It is within cation. The first collaborative effort of this context that the spirit of structur- The Berlage – jointly produced with the alism – the ability to practice in trans- Architecture Department at TU Delft, formable, adjustable, sustainable ways in The New Institute in Rotterdam, which [ 2 ] it, become very important. Both notions had their own ideas and practices – espe- refer to an understanding of design that cially concerning the built environment. takes into account other spatial agen- Out of this perspective the knowledge of cies than that of the architect and both the architect was strongly repositioned. define the architectural project beyond Structuralism illustrated that expertise the articulation of a perfected image. concerning the built environment could Structuralism seems to have engaged also come from everyday users, in both with similar issues and this explains its more traditional as well as modernized topicality. societies. I believe that it is this repositioned knowledge of the architect which Dirk van den Heuvel: I’m really sur- strongly appeals to students nowadays. prised that we still talk about it, and In contradistinction to the sometimes increasingly so it seems. When I was a self-indulgent postures of architects in student in the late eighties you wouldn’t the 80s and 90s, students are today look- touch the topic. Structuralism was not ing for other positions from which they so much taboo, but old fashioned, a can engage with different spatial agen- non-subject, and even Hertzberger cies. This implies not only redefining the The Agency himself was moving away from that role of the architect, but also questioning position at the time. Piet Blom’s Cube the very idea of the architectural project. of Houses in Rotterdam had been finished An architectural project is then no longer for a couple of years and everyone understood as a projection of a perfect Structuralism was very dismissive about them. The state, but rather as an interaction with new trend was coming from Mecanoo, other spatial agencies: of communities, and the first buildings by OMA were of inhabitants, of future users, and so on. Tom Avermaete and Dirk van den being constructed. So I couldn’t imag- Hence, it is certainly about open systems, Heuvel interviewed by Arjen Oosterman ine becoming fascinated by Piet Blom but this openness implies particularly the and Brendan Cormier at the time. My fascination is that the engagement with other spatial agencies. questions behind structuralism are still Arjen Oosterman: We’re inter- very fundamental, they are still on the DvdH: Herman Hertzberger’s books ested in the present relevance table. If you look beyond just the Dutch are by far the most read by our stu- of structuralism, so please tell Forum group (Aldo van Eyck, Herman dents. We don’t tell them to read them, us, what is so fascinating about Hertzberger and others) there are a lot they just do. It’s quite amazing. One structuralism? of contemporary works, like work from of the paradoxes of historical structur- OMA and MVRDV that are at least alism is that, although it tries to avoid Tom Avermaete: The masterclass we building on the legacy of Dutch structur- the issue of form, it developed a very held was about structuralism, clearly, alism. So these questions are still being strong formal language that is recogniz- but also about ‘open structures’. Our asked: To accommodate the masses able today. Surely that’s part of why we contemporary fascination with structur- in an egalitarian society the search is still talk about it. And that’s the para- alism has a lot to do with the ongoing for open, all-inclusive systems, and to dox, because the way it’s being revived debates concerning the changing role of devise these is extremely tough. now has two shapes. One is indeed a the architect and alternative definitions formal language, look at pixel power of of the architectural project. At present TA: You are right to stress that the his- MVRDV or the town hall in Rotterdam a lot of people are searching for alter- torical development of structuralism was by OMA. And then there is a revival of native roles, ‘other ways of doing’, as embedded in the project for an egalitar- those issues that you were talking about, Jeremy Till and Tatjana Schneider have ian society and the question of ‘the great- Tom. How does architecture as a spatial recently called it. Out of this perspective est number’. However, it is in my opinion system work with the other spatial agen- notions like ‘openness’ and ‘generosity’, also strongly related to the emergence of cies in the city? And then you get a very in the way that Lacaton and Vassal use a society of emancipated individuals who different sort of typology, configurations [ 3 ] or languages that are not necessarily looked upon as the failure of structur- TA: The nice thing about structural- structuralist as a formal language, with alism, but one can also look differently ist architecture is that there is always lots of repeated little units; there can at this. What remains fascinating about control of the single cell. So it’s about also be open structures like the reuse this paradox, and possibly also produc- being flexible and maintaining a certain of industrial sheds. Or take Herman tive within a contemporary perspec- design control simultaneously. It’s not Hertzberger’s own work. He always tive, is that designing an architecture completely undefined in terms of form presents it as a continuity, but in terms of openness does not necessarily imply but there is also a certain flexibility on of typology or spatial structure there is a withdrawal of the aesthetic dimen- the level of configuration. definitely a shift in how the construction, sion. In other words, fully engaging the physical structure, and spatial con- with the spatial agencies of users does DvdH: The other curious thing with all figuration and typology interrelate; that not imply that the architect is becom- these buildings designed for flexibility in is very different in his recent school in ing the designer of a mute infrastruc- the 60s, including Hertzberger’s Ministry Rome compared to the Centraal Beheer ture.

Load more