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De Uithof, history of a university campus,
late 1960s
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| 1966 |
J.A.C. van
der Steur suddenly died. He had updated his masterplan
to a version that could still be used in 1967, but his succession meant changes
in the way 'De Uithof' further developed. In the mean time,
plans for the buildings for physics and mathematics had been
prepared, as well as for the veterinary clinics. All of those
were designed by the architectural firm Haskoning. |
| 1967 |
The board of the university appointed
J.A. Kuiper as successor to Van der Steur. M.
Ruppert (Dutch only) became
curator for all building affairs. Towards the end of the
1960s student numbers expanded rapidly and the developmental
plans could not keep pace. Drastic measures were needed and
without much planning it was decided that 'Transitorium 2'
(now known as the 'Willem
C. van Unnikbuilding') would have
to be erected. The building was designed by the office of
Lucas and Niemeijer and identical to buildings produced in
The Hague and in Rijswijk. Without a proper programme and
without much hassle concerning permits an office tower
could be built in a short time. The construction method was
special: jack block, which meant that the top floor was constructed
first and joisted upwards by means of hydraulic techniques.
Van Unnikbuilding (see picture at the top) is the highest
building of 'De Uithof', and developed from an architectural
accident into an unplanned landmark. |
| 1969 |
From 1967 onwards, the spatial planning
of 'De Uithof' was the result of joined effort. Kuiper was
unable to produce a new masterplan that could provide enough
flexibility and could keep up with the everchanging growth
perspectives of the university. As a result the architects
that worked on 'De Uithof' started what became known as the
'architectenoverleg' (the architect's consultation) and formed
a planning team without any payment. E.F. Groosman (designer
of the Kruytbuilding), J.A. Lucas, D.J. Istha, M.F. Duintjer,
G.J. van der Grinten (designer of the Wentbuilding), Sj.
Wouda, H.C. Stadlander and J.D. Schoute (both from Haskoning)
laid down their ideas in scale models. Their consultations
were meant to prevent the occurrance of planological anomalies,
but unfortunately not much of their views were kept for future
reference. On the basis of the scale model of 1968, maps
were drawn in 1969 titled 'schetsontwerp De Uithof'. A huge
university campus was perceived including wide, partly three
lane roads. Most buildings were meant to be connected at
level plus 1 through bridges. |
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| These digitalia are best
viewed in Century Gothic. |
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