Photo: Dudok Architectuur Centrum

Home / Architecture / Architecture Hilversum / Post '65 architecture /Former office building Laapersveld 13

Former office building Laapersveld 13
1991 / Architectenbureau Alberts & Van Huut

Laapersveld 13, Hilversum

The school building of the Alberdingk Thijmcollege Hilversum at Laapersveld 13 is a special building. It was built in 1991 as an office building for the Erfgooiers housing association. The architects of the building, Architectenbureau Alberts & Van Huut, are known for their organic architecture.

Design

The building consists of several building parts of different heights around a courtyard and is designed according to the principles of ‘organic architecture’. This is reflected in the shapes and colours, both in the exterior and in the interior. There are few right angles in the building, which the human body does not have either. The roof also consists of various sloping roof shapes. The window frames and fascias are colored red. The staircases have high glass windows in which red-coloured and varied traces have been incorporated. The facade is made of red-brown nuanced brick.

Alberts & Van Huut

The architectural firm Alberts & Van Huut of Ton Alberts (1927-1999) and Max van Huut (b. 1947) became best known for their organic architecture based on anthroposophical principles (Gasunie building Groningen, NMB office Amsterdam). In their own words, the planet and humans were their greatest sources of inspiration. The organic architecture is partly inspired by nature and is based on beauty and harmony. In Hilversum, the architectural firm also designed several residential blocks in the Kerkelanden district and an office building on Naarderweg.