The Continuous Facade

Abstract

Berlage completed the design for the expansion plan of the south of Amsterdam in 1904. This plan was approved by the local council, but did not remain uncriticized. Among others, J.H.W. Leliman commented that the plan did not meet the demand for affordable housing and suspected the direct implementation of Camillo Sitte’s theories. Berlage himself preferred a monumental approach and he often referred to the Paris development by Haussmann. However, at that time, monumental urban planning in Amsterdam was received as provoking and this was not accepted by the local council. The execution of the first ‘Plan Zuid’ delayed, among others as a consequence of the First World War. Ten years later, in 1914, the plan had to be revised. Fortunately for Berlage the discourse on monumental urban planning took off in the interim period. In 1914, Berlage gave four lectures about urbanism. The quoted sources in these lectures are consulted to gain a deeper understanding of Berlage’s Theories. Berlage explained the historic development of urban growth. Because of the subjective individual style and the lack of a generic style it was impossible to obtain a coherent cityscape without regulations by authority. For a coherent cityscape, an urban plan should not only contain the street layout and the division of land, it should include how to build on the created plots as well. Additionally, a façade influences the street and eventually the city and that is why this should not be left to the individual. Consequently it would be ideal to develop an entire block of housing at once. However, this also led to monotonous façades. Thus, to stimulate the development of an entire block façade with architectural quality, it was unavoidable to use regulation and provide economic advantages. When Berlage revised ‘Plan Zuid’, which was approved in 1917, he created the monumental urban plan he preferred. Regulating the execution of the plan started with experimental committees. The influence of the committees concerned the assessment of submitted designs and increased by providing silhouettes as a framework for architects. Eventually the ‘Commissie Zuid’ was appointed in 1925. The members of the committee worked extremely precise. The designs were discussed and adjusted many times before they were approved. They had a considerable influence on the execution of ‘Plan Zuid’, of which the quality relied on the regulation of the execution.