Nieuwe Zakelijkheid
Nieuwe Zakelijkheid, translated as New Objectivity or New Pragmatism, is a Dutch period of modernist architecture that started in the 1920s and continued into the 1930s; the term is also used to denote a (brief) period in art and literature (esp. the early novels Blokken, Knorrende Beesten, and Bint by Ferdinand Bordewijk[1]). Related to and descended from the German movement Neue Sachlichkeit, Nieuwe Zakelijkheid is characterized by angular shapes and designs that are generally free of ornamentation and decoration. The architecture is based on functional considerations and often included open layouts that allowed spaces to be used with flexibility. Sliding doors were included in some of the designs.[2]
The movement is associated with Het Nieuwe Bouwen (new building) and was contemporary and related to cubism and De Stijl, and applies similar design principles to architecture.[3] kheid+architecture. Dutch architects working in this style included Theo van Doesburg, Gerrit Rietveld, and J.J.P. Oud.[4] The architectural style is similar to Piet Mondrian's artwork who was working contemporaneously with the architects. Common influences are also seen in furniture designs.[citation needed]
Some critics associated the style with dogmatic marxism or capitalism, seeing in the buildings a reflection of the mass-produced values that comes with a focus on economy rather than craftsmanship.[citation needed]
Dutch East Indies
By the end of 1920s, Nieuwe Zakelijkheid became popular in the Dutch East Indies. The style was slightly conformed to the tropical climate of Indonesia with the addition of 'double facade' concept, a typical element of tropical Indische architecture. Earliest example of this is the office of Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij building (1929) in Batavia, Dutch East Indies now Bank Mandiri Museum, built under a well-planned spatial planning around the station square Stationsplein of Kota Station, a sample of pre-World War II urban planning which for Southeast Asia was completely unprecedented. Other notable examples are Palembang City Hall (Snuyf, 1928-1931, nicknamed Gedung Ledeng, Indonesian "plumb building") and Kota Post Office Building (Baumgartner, 1929).[5]
See also
References
- ↑ There continues to be disagreement as to whether Bordewijk really "belonged" to that style. See Ralf Grüttemeier, "Bordewijk en de Nieuwe Zakelijkheid," in Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ D. J. M. van der Voordt, Herman B. R. Wegen Architecture in Use page 56
- ↑ Dennis Sharp The Illustrated encyclopedia of architects and architecture 1991
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
