Van Nelle Factory
Encyclopedia
The former Van Nelle Factory on the Schie river in Rotterdam
, is one of the most important historic industrial buildings in the Netherlands
. It is a former factory
currently used as an office complex for design and media firms.
The building was designed by architects Johannes Brinkman and Leendert van der Vlugt
and built between 1925 and 1931. It is an example of Nieuwe Bouwen, modern architecture
in the Netherlands. It was commissioned by the then-director of the Van Nelle company, Cees van der Leeuw. The Van Nelle company was a major producer of tobacco products, coffee and tea.
In the 20th century it was a coffee and tea factory. Currently it houses a wide variety of new media and design companies and is known as the Van Nelle Design Factory ("Van Nelle Ontwerpfabriek" in Dutch). Some of the areas are used for meetings, conventions and events.
Wessel De Jonge, an authority on the renovation of modern architecture, planned and project-managed the renovation, which began in the year 2000.
The Van Nelle Factory shows the influence of Russian constructivism
. Mart Stam, who was one of the architects of the factory in 1926-28, came in contact with the Russian Avant-Garde in 1922 in Berlin
. In 1926 Mart Stam organized an architecture tour of the Netherlands for the Russian artist El Lissitzky and his wife Sophie Küppers, collector of avant-garde art. They visited Jacobus Oud
, Cornelis van Eesteren, Gerrit Rietveld
, and other artists. Sophie Küppers stated that Mart Stam spoke about his factory during that trip. The large letters on the roof, and other parts of the building, seem to come directly from the world of Russian constructivism. The constructivist aspect probably shows the influence of Mart Stam and the round architectural forms (including the office building) are probably more the heritage of Leendert van der Vlugt.
The Van Nelle Factory is a Dutch national monument (Rijksmonument
) and is on the list of sites under consideration for the status of UNESCO
World Heritage Site
.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, is one of the most important historic industrial buildings in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. It is a former factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
currently used as an office complex for design and media firms.
The building was designed by architects Johannes Brinkman and Leendert van der Vlugt
Leendert van der Vlugt
Leendert Cornelis van der Vlugt was a Dutch architect in Rotterdam.After the death of the Rotterdam architect Michiel Brinkman in 1925, his son Johannes Brinkman, a constructional engineer, took over the architectural office and made Leendert van der Vlugt co-director. The new practice was called...
and built between 1925 and 1931. It is an example of Nieuwe Bouwen, modern architecture
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
in the Netherlands. It was commissioned by the then-director of the Van Nelle company, Cees van der Leeuw. The Van Nelle company was a major producer of tobacco products, coffee and tea.
In the 20th century it was a coffee and tea factory. Currently it houses a wide variety of new media and design companies and is known as the Van Nelle Design Factory ("Van Nelle Ontwerpfabriek" in Dutch). Some of the areas are used for meetings, conventions and events.
Wessel De Jonge, an authority on the renovation of modern architecture, planned and project-managed the renovation, which began in the year 2000.
The Van Nelle Factory shows the influence of Russian constructivism
Constructivism
Constructivism may refer to:* Constructivist epistemology, the philosophical view* Constructivism in international relations* Constructivism , a philosophical view on mathematical proofs and existence of mathematical objects...
. Mart Stam, who was one of the architects of the factory in 1926-28, came in contact with the Russian Avant-Garde in 1922 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 1926 Mart Stam organized an architecture tour of the Netherlands for the Russian artist El Lissitzky and his wife Sophie Küppers, collector of avant-garde art. They visited Jacobus Oud
Jacobus Oud
Jacobus Johannes Pieter Oud, commonly called J. J. P. Oud was a Dutch architect. His fame began as a follower of the De Stijl movement....
, Cornelis van Eesteren, Gerrit Rietveld
Gerrit Rietveld
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld was a Dutch furniture designer and architect. One of the principal members of the Dutch artistic movement called De Stijl, Rietveld is famous for his Red and Blue Chair and for the Rietveld Schröder House, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.-Biography:Rietveld was born in...
, and other artists. Sophie Küppers stated that Mart Stam spoke about his factory during that trip. The large letters on the roof, and other parts of the building, seem to come directly from the world of Russian constructivism. The constructivist aspect probably shows the influence of Mart Stam and the round architectural forms (including the office building) are probably more the heritage of Leendert van der Vlugt.
The Van Nelle Factory is a Dutch national monument (Rijksmonument
Rijksmonument
A rijksmonument is a National Heritage Site of the Netherlands, listed by the agency Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed acting for the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.-History and criteria:...
) and is on the list of sites under consideration for the status of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.