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| 7 -
The Importance of Place |
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| Expression of place through architecture | |||
| Centraal
Beheer Offices 1967, 1970-72 (H. Hertzberger arch) The building is the headquarters for a major Dutch insurance company, and works in a very different way from a typical office building. There is a convincing integration of community and working life. This is seen in the open floor plan, the connecting voids through floor levels, the ‘public’ streets, and the many informal meeting spaces in the building. In what is perhaps both a strength and a flaw, the building is inwardly focused and its form is generated by its internal ideas. The exterior is undifferentiated, and it very difficult to find the entry. There is very little integration of the exterior environment into the interior of this office. In part this can be explained by the relatively monotonous surroundings, but more importantly I think it is due to the nature of the design idea. In this sense it is similar to Wright’s Johnson Wax offices where the influence of the external world is shunned and the focus is spend on creating an internal environment. This same idea however is very powerful, and goes a long way towards creating a micro-cosmos that roots man into the world. By this I mean the building provides a ‘place’ where the world of work is integrated into daily life in a meaningful and positive way. The success of building depends on the world view on the architect, and the rigorous application of these principles throughout the design. |
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| Fig 41 - Centrall Beheer (CB); Floor plan | Fig 42 - CB; ‘Street’ | Fig 43 - CB; Interior | Fig 44 - CB; Assembly |
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| Fig 45 - CB; Exterior | Fig 45a - CB; Interior | ||
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