Architectura et Amicitia
Celebrating 150 years architecture and friendship
AetA Wageningen
In 2005, Architectura et Amicitia celebrated 150 years of architecture and friendship with a program entitled Shared Passions. After all, architecture is not the only passion that forges bonds of friendship. Traveling is another one. The trip to Brazil with 35 members in April and May 2005 provided again proof of that. Excursions to lesser-known projects at the edges of our small country another. 15 Architects, a book with interviews, sketched a cross-section of our membership. Appendix 1991-2005 updated the 1992 publication of our history since 1855. The travelogue IndiA+A recounted two trips to that subcontinent in 1994 and 2004 in connection with an exhibition of photo's, films and sketches in Haarlem.
Foreign excursion Cuba
The event A+Auto saw some thirty vintage cars, owned by members, gathered on the grounds of the Van Nelle factory in Rotterdam. This icon of modern industrial architecture looked forever young, surrounded by cars built much later.
Nieuwjaarsbijeenkomst 2009
Architecture+Music as a shared passion generated a composition Trembling Ground, an impression of the building process set to music. The first and only performance of this work played by members and conducted by composer Hans Asselbergs was presented on the stage of Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, the new concert hall on the Amsterdam Waterfront.
A group picture taken during intermission in the great foyer of this exciting building shows how alive Architectura et Amicitia is after 150 years. Even more people joined the party afterwards on board of the Supperclub cruise boat that culminated the festivities.
Hamburg excursion 2005
A venerable history
It all started August 23, 1855 in a smoky café in the heart of Amsterdam with the 27 year young architect J.H. Leliman. He was in charge of refurbishing the assembly building of Arti et Amicitiae, since 1839 an organization of artists and art-loving Amsterdammers. It was the time of learned societies that aimed to further the advance of arts and sciences by engaging citizens dedicated to that cause.
In the site office of Arti Leliman had talked about his travels abroad to friends and colleagues. Those lectures inspired that meeting in 1855 where 22 young architects, draftsmen and acquaintances around Leliman founded their own society of friends, calling it Architectura et Amicitia.
24 Hours excursion Rotterdam 2009
A permanent debate
Throughout its 150 years of existence A et A, as a vital and active group of like-minded fans of the profession was sometimes in the vanguard, but always on perhaps even more interesting sidelines. Movements like the sober eclecticism of its founder Leliman were promoted in the third quarter of the 19the century. Then came the Dutch Renaissance of Springer, followed by the innovative styles of Kromhout, Berlage and De Bazel at the dawn of a new century. Architects discovered urban planning and social housing as collective notions about political responsibility for the built environment evolved.
The ornament in Architecture, Discussion 2009
Wendingen: an inspiration from nature and abroad
In the twenties Wendingen, the magazine of A et A edited by Wijdeveld, became a herald for the exuberant Amsterdam School, with its inspiration drawn from forms in nature and exotic building types. Although Wendingen also paid attention to more functional manifestations of contemporary architecture, modernist architects preferred to organize themselves in De 8 and Opbouw , based in Amsterdam and Rotterdam respectively.
Forum: a different approach
After the Second World War, when differences op opinion were set aside in the interest of the nation's reconstruction, architects of divergent attitudes joined A et A. It led to the establishment of Forum, a periodical with editors like Apon, Bakema, Hertzberger and Van Eyck who advocated a more inclusive approach to architecture.
In the footsteps of Aldo 50 years later, excursion Mali the Dogon 2009
Education: the cornerstone of architecture
The essence of A et A consisted not only of publications and debates, influential as they were. This society initiated much-needed additions to the educational infrastructure. Technical schools added building techniques to their curriculum. In 1908, after having called 53 years for the establishment of an Academy, A et A did so itself. In the same year a couple of energetic members stimulated the foundation of the Bond van Nederlandse Architecten (BNA) to promote the architectural profession. Outsourcing business interests helped to maintain friendship, which after all had always been the core business of A et A.
Study atelier University of Delft 2009
A bright future
Appendix 1990-2005 ends with a prophecy. World architecture will be well documented on Internet, combined with a Global Positioning System. Wherever you are, through A et A a worldwide network informs you of architecture in the vicinity. Instantly, a flash mob can be arranged if you want company.
On bike, with skeelers, in canoes or just walking, for a brief moment you are part of a temporary company of kindred spirits. Suddenly, something happens. A glance, a smile and a pat on the back. Next time, a hug. The passion to share and enjoy architecture. In short - Amicitia.
Friso Broeksma
March 29, 2007