RIBA Gold Medal Winner 2012, Dutch Architect, Herman Hertzberger Architecture Photos

RIBA Gold Medal 2012 : Herman Hertzberger

Royal Institute of British Architects Award, England, UK

6 Dec 2011

Herman Hertzberger to receive the 2012 Royal Gold Medal for architecture

The internationally acclaimed Dutch architect Herman Hertzberger has been named today (Tuesday 6 December 2011) as the recipient of one of the world’s most prestigious architecture prizes, the Royal Gold Medal.

RIBA Gold Medal 2012 Winner

Established in 1848 and given in recognition of a body of work, the Royal Gold Medal is approved personally by Her Majesty the Queen and is given to a person or group of people whose influence on architecture has had a truly international effect.

Born in 1932 Herman Hertzberger opened his own firm of architects in 1960, the present-day Architectuurstudio HH in Amsterdam. One of his major influences on 20th century architecture was to challenge the early modernist belief that ‘form follows function’ – that the shape of the building was defined by its purpose. Hertzberger believes that the core function of a building does not provide the total solution to space usage: it is a framework that should enable its users to interpret and define how they inhabit it. His buildings offer flexible ‘in between’ spaces that encourage our deeper human needs of dwelling and social activity.

Centraal Beheer – Office building, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands:

photo © Aviodrome Luchtfotografie

His celebrated Montessori School in Delft (1960-66) rethought the way that classrooms were laid out, with L-shaped rooms creating different zones. Images of children playing and learning on broad wooden steps as a creative space inspired many architects of schools across northern Europe. His exemplary workplace Central Baheer in Apeldoorn (1968-72) was designed with the needs of the individual at its core and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in The Hague (1979-90) was one of the first buildings to develop the idea of the internal street or elongated atrium to encourage social interaction and get light into all the rooms.

De Eilanden School, Amsterdam:

photo © Kees Rutten

RIBA President Angela Brady, who chaired the Honours Committee which selected the Royal Gold Medal winner said:
“Herman Hertzberger has transformed the way we think about architecture, both as architects and people who use buildings. His architecture is about from and space which he defines as ‘place which has not been appropriated’. Throughout his career his humanity has shone through in his schools, homes, theatres and workplaces. The RIBA is delighted to recognize the importance of his achievements and the effect his designs have on people and place.”

Chassé Theater, Breda, The Netherlands:

photo © Herman van Doorn

Herman Hertzberger will be presented with the Royal Gold Medal on 9 February 2012 at a ceremony at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London, during which the 2012 RIBA International and Honorary Fellowships will also be presented.

This year’s RIBA Honours Committee was chaired by RIBA President Angela Brady with architects David Adjaye, Yvonne Farrell, Niall McLaughlin, Sarah Wigglesworth and Sir Terence Conran.

Herman Hertzberger

photo © Hans van den Bogaard

Key Buildings by Herman Hertzberger

Faculty of Science University of Utrecht
2006-11
Coda Shelter for Culture (museum) Apeldoorn
2004-11
NHL University Leeuwarden
2004-10
Waternet Head Office, Amsterdam
2000-05
Media Park & Housing Cologne, Germany
2004-04
Floating Villa – Middelburg
2002-04
+ Watersniphof & Zwanenhof
1998-2004
YKK Dormitory, Kurobe, Japan
1991-98
Chasse Concert Hall, Breda
1992-95
LiMa Wohnungsbau – Berlin
1982-86
Apolloscholen, Amsterdam
1980-83
Music Palace Vrendenberg, Utrecht
1973-78, being renewed 2003-13
Centraal Beheer Apeldoorn
1968-72
Diagoon Housing, Delft
1969-70
Student House Amsterdam
1959-66
Montessori School, Delft
1960-66
Lin Mij (textile workshop) Amsterdam
1962-64 – demolished