Amsterdamse School

Amsterdam School

The Amsterdam School is a Dutch architectural style that can be placed within expressionism and is related to Art Deco. The industrial revolution in the middle of the nineteenth century increased employment and people moved to the cities. This caused a housing shortage. In 1901 the Housing Act was therefore introduced, which provided better housing for workers. This led to major construction projects in major cities. A group of young architects from the architectural firm of E. Cuypers in Amsterdam started to design in a more expressive and imaginative style. The magazine 'Wendingen' for architecture and design served as a platform for the group to speak. The emphasis was not on functionality, but on the outward appearance of the building. The Amsterdam School is an architectural movement based on the idea that a pleasant living and working environment is good for the well-being of the workers.

The Amsterdam School can be recognized by the use of 'honest' materials such as brick and wood, decorations such as sculptures (especially of men and women as a symbol of the working class), stained glass windows and wrought iron additions. The roofs are stylish, facades are vaulted with vertical accents, windows have striking shapes and 'corner solutions' such as turrets are used. But the designers also worked on interiors, furniture and objects for the public space, in which they collaborated with artists from different disciplines.