Ad Hereijgers, Endry van Velzen

De Naoorlogse Stad
Een hedendaagse ontwerpopgave

Paperback sewn, 148 pages, illustrated (colour and b/w), size: 24 x 17 cm
text in Dutch, ISBN 90-5662-224-2, € 19.50

No less than a third of the entire Dutch housing stock can be found in post-war urban areas. The post-war cities reflect the ideals and principles of the period of reconstruction (1945-1970): the 'neighbourhood' idea, the open planning principle, good accessibility and a green setting. Meanwhile such areas have become antiquated and are due for an overhaul. Their imminent transformation requires an unambiguous stance. This book presents the results of intensive research done into post-war areas by De Nijl Architecten and DE LIJN. It describes the location, structure, programme and evolution of post-war cities, illustrated using concrete examples. The authors call for a new division of roles between the key parties involved, namely local government and the housing corporations.

They then enumerate the resources needed to define the delicate relationship between the structure and the buildings in these areas and, by extension, that between urbanism, architecture and landscape architecture.

The book opens with a short text by Ruud Brouwers, director of the Netherlands Architecture Fund, vividly describing the sum and substance of this study.
De Naoorlogse Stad puts the post-war city on the agenda alongside the recent expansions and urban renewal projects, and draws attention to the crucial role our post-war architecture plays.