BRUTALISM'S ORPHAN

The Burgerweeshuis (Municipal Orphanage) at the IJsbaanpad in Amsterdam Zuid was built after a design by Aldo van Eyck in 1958-1960. It was the birthplace of that very Dutch subgenre of Brutalism known as Structuralism. The structure served as the new home of the Municipal Orphanage which thus far had been housed in a collection of ancient buildings in the heart of the inner city of Amsterdam. It combined the latest insights in terms of psychology, pedagogy and architecture to provide a sober but appropriate home to orphaned children. At the time it was located at the very edge of the city, providing plenty of open space and fresh air. The structure consists of standardised units of three different sizes, 328 small units grouped around 8 large units, 4 of which are single storey units and 4 double storey units. Each grouping of a large unit and its smaller units is arranged around a small courtyard and these groupings are in turn interconnected and arranged around a large central courtyard, with one side of that courtyard marked not by these standard units, but a large rectangular elevated unit. The latter houses staff dwellings and some administrative areas, the groupings each form a living unit. Each unit its constructed with the same basic layout and materials, with all the roofs of the single storey units at the same level, while floors and windows vary in height. Each unit was designed for a specific age group, with all the fittings and many furnishings integrated into the structure and designed along the same principles. Unfortunately, I have as yet been unable to photograph the interior. After 1991 it was used in various other functions before falling into disuse. Eventually it was thoroughly restored and renovated in 2014-2018 before being acquired by Bouwfonds Project Development, which currently uses it as their offices and to house their art collection.