P.J.H. Cuypers 1827-1921

Exhibition at the Netherlands Architecture Institute, Rotterdam, from 22 September 2007 to 6 January 2008, and at the new NAI Maastricht later in 2008 Rarely has a Dutch architect been such a defining factor for the impression of an era than the Roermond-born architect Pierre Cuypers (1827–1921). It is not only the famous edifices such as the Rijksmuseum and the Central Station in Amsterdam that have been fixed in the national consciousness; his many Catholic churches with their neo-Gothic towers are also inseparably associated with the image of Dutch cities and villages. Cuypers’ views on restoration, the international context in which he developed his ideas, his plea for a revaluation of Gothic architecture, his many followers and his influence on H.P. Berlage and Michiel de Klerk make him the most important Dutch architect of his time. The work of Cuypers made the Industrial Revolution manifest in the Netherlands and gave a major impulse to the professionalization of architectural ¬practice. All this proceeded in parallel with the burgeoning of the Dutch economy and socio-cultural life in the second half of the 19th century. With his hundreds of buildings, Cuypers not only left a quantitative mark on the built environment in the Netherlands, but he also raised the quality of Dutch architecture and established a model for the modern architecture firm. This beautifully designed publication unlocks Cuypers’ ¬complete oeuvre for the first time. A selection of essays sheds light on Cuypers’ position and the significance of his work. Many hundreds of photos, designs and maps make this standard work complete.