Thursday 29 September 2016

Holland House


Dutch architect H P Berlage (1856-1934) is a key figure in the early development of Modernism in the Netherlands. In Amsterdam he designed the city’s Commodity Market (now the Beurs van Berlage) - a sprawling red brick building with a massive clock tower, containing three large multi-storey trading halls. Constructed on the Damrak between 1896 and 1903 it retains a dominant sense of presence in the city centre. The City of London is home to Berlage’s only building constructed outside the Netherlands – Holland House in Bury Street, in the shadow of the Gherkin.


The client was Wm. H Müller & Co, a Dutch shipping line with whom Berlage had a close commercial relationship. Berlage drew on the experience of his 1911 visit to the US and designed a steel-framed 4 storey office block faced with grey-green faience above a polished black granite plinth. At the centre was an open atrium, another feature observed in the US. Strong vertical ribs and inset panels below the windows provide visual drama especially when seen from an oblique angle. On the south east corner there’s a stylised nautical relief in black granite featuring the prow of a steamship by Dutch sculptor, Joseph Mendès da Costa (1863-1939). This is the centenary year – the building was completed in 1916.


Internally there are central lobbies decorated with stained glass, mosaics and wall tiling schemes. Berlage’s interior decor assistant was the artist Bart van der Leck (1876-1958), later an associate of Mondrian and De Stijl. Maritime themed imagery predominated in the form of anchors, compass points and wave forms. Marine blue tiles were used on the basement level to symbolise below the waterline and salvaged material from scrapped ships appeared in the form of brass rails and timber panelling. The light fittings were a later addition and designed by Henry van de Velde (1863-1957), a Belgian pioneer of Art Nouveau who in later years moved towards Modernism. The building is Grade II* listed – the listing can be seen here. The photos were taken when the building was open during Open House London 2016. Just outside enthusiasts queued for hours to get inside the Gherkin while a ten minute wait was all it took to see around Holland House – which I suspect was a richer experience.










Sunday 25 September 2016

In the Ark with Colman’s


Another example of Colman’s of Norwich campaigning for the hearts and minds of the nation’s children. Crisp drawings, bright colours, cute animals and catchy rhymes combine to engage the interest of the junior consumer. No opportunity wasted to sing the praises of the Colman portfolio of products from mustard to starch, from Waverley Oats to Krusto Pastry. Unsophisticated by today’s standard but the advertising industry hasn’t forgotten the importance of targeting children – the net is simply cast wider as the adult population auto-infantilises. Many of the most successful TV campaigns are built on the simple notion of treating the nation’s adults as if they were children.










Tuesday 13 September 2016

Colbert Swing Bridge, Dieppe


The Pont Colbert was completed in 1888 and is a rare survivor and still in regular use. It pivots from the bank and is opened on average 4 times a day, powered by its original motors. Owned by the Dieppe port authority it is showing signs of neglect and hasn’t been painted for more than two decades. Unlike many similar bridges it performs a vital function, linking the two halves of the town. The port would like to be rid of it and plans exist for a modern replacement. Local campaigners have pointed out that a new bridge would be hugely more expensive than refurbishing the present bridge and add that its rarity has the potential to make it a visitor destination in its own right. Europa Nostra has included the bridge on the list of Europe’s 7 Most Endangered Buildings of 2016 and its future remains uncertain and undecided.