| Title |
H. P. Berlage's Modernity in The Amsterdam Exchange |
| Keywords |
Berlage ; Amsterdam ; Exchange ; Structural Rationalism ; Villa |
| Abstract |
As a proto-modernist work the Amsterdam Exchange has been regarded as a specimen of Structural Rationalist's architecture. Because of its major steel structure, use of geometry, and reminiscence of Gothic the designer of the building was labeled by Kenneth Frampton as one of the apostles of Viollet le Duc. The architect was Hendrick Petrus Berlage. Contrary to above Nicolaus Pevsner claimed that Berlage's architectural discourse was 'Anti-Rational' because of its anachronistic formal language, Expressionism. In terms of structure Berlage's idea is rational, whilst formally 'Anti-Rational'. These polarised view points were due to the legacies of Modern Architecture that was controled by hegemonic figures in terms not only of practical field but of historiography. The hegemonic figures wanted to see Berlage as what they wanted to see. With this idea, this paper is one of endeavours to collect fragmented history in the early modern architecture. The Amsterdam Exchange has a long term story until the opening. Without understanding the story we have to withhold an evaluation of Berlage's architecture. |