Hertzberger, Herman

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Hertzberger, Herman (1932– ). Dutch architect. A member of Team X, with Bakema, van Eyck, and others, he edited (1959–63) the architectural journal Forum. In 1958 he won the competition to design the Students' Residence, Weeperstraat, Amsterdam (completed 1966), and set up his own practice, designing the Montessori Primary School, Jacoba van Beiernlaan, Delft (1960–66, with additions 1968–70 and 1977–81). In these buildings he developed his theory of Structuralism, in which he provided an unfinished structure and envelope based on a regular grid of cellular spaces (to be occupied and fitted out by individual inhabitants), linked by communal areas, thus establishing a hierarchy of private, semi-private, and public spaces. This idea was further evolved at the home for the elderly and disabled, Slotervaart, Amsterdam (1964–74), the Centraal Beheer Insurance Offices, Apeldoorn (1968–72), the Vredenburg Music Centre, Utrecht (1973–8), and the Diagoon houses, Gebenlaan, Delft (1969–71). Other buildings included housing at Westbroek, Utrecht (1978–80), Heinrich Schützallee, Kassel (1979–82), Lindenstrasse/Markgrafenstrasse, Kreuzberg, Berlin (1982–6), and De Overloop, Boogstraat, Almere Haven (1980–4); the Ministry of Social Welfare and Employment, The Hague (1979–80); schools at Ambonplein (1984–6), Willemspark (1980–3), and Apollolaan (1980–3), all in Amsterdam; the Theatre Centre, The Hague (1986–93); the Institute for Artistic Education Library, Breda (1991–3); and the Theatre, Breda (1992–5). His Lessons for Students in Architecture (1991) has been an influential text.

Bibliography

Bergeijk (1997);
Hertzberger (1995, 2002);
Lüchinger (ed.) (1987);
Reinink (1990)