Louise de Blécourt    louise@blecourtdesignmanagement.nl     +31 620 199 639

The story of an architectural masterpiece, with its expressive dynamism, ornamentation, and rich decoration. A building by architect Joan Melchior van der Meij (1878-1949) and featuring the then-progressive photography of photographer Bernard Eilers (1878-1951), which provides a unique glimpse back in time. It inspired a new architectural style, the Amsterdam School. 

978-94-6258-719-9 Het Scheepvaarthuis. Eerste gebouw van de Amsterdamse School. 
978-94-6258-739-7 The Scheepvaarthuis. The inspiration for a new architectural style, the Amsterdam School. 

Hardcover, 256 pages with almost 400 illustrations, WBOOKS. Price: € 34,95 (incl. 9% VAT).

A limited and signed number of books are here available. 

The Scheepvaarthuis (the ‘Shipping House’), on Prins Hendrikkade in Amsterdam, diagonally opposite the central railway station, is one of the city’s iconic buildings. There were several phases of construction, starting in 1913. The architect Joan Melchior van der Meij (1878–1949) was commissioned to design the building, in part thanks to his research into brickwork construction during his Prix de Rome travels (1907–1910). He gave it an entirely unique style and appearance, with the sea and shipping as unifying themes. He put together a team for the decoration and interior design of this huge office building, which the clients were keen to move into as soon as possible. It gave a flying start to the careers of many young artists — names such as Michel de Klerk, Piet Kramer, Hendrik van den Eijnde, Hildo Krop and Willem Bogtman are featured here. The Scheepvaarthuis was the first building to be classed as the work of a new architectural style, the ‘Amsterdam School’. 

In addition to a plethora of details in the building itself, there are also numerous collection pieces to admire. The photographs in this book give an impression of this treasure-trove of ornamentation and materials. Along with anecdotes and historical images, they paint a picture of the context within which this unique building was created and why its style was often emulated. The book discusses the choices of the six shipping companies who built the Scheepvaarthuis to be their prestigious headquarters, and relates how it got a fresh lease of life as a hotel. This special place is still inspirational today and will continue to remain so. 

Concept and author:  Louise de Blécourt
Photography:  Hessel Waalewijn, hesselwaalewijn.com
Graphic design: Taco Zwaanswijk, Stainlessmedia.com
English translation: Tessera Translations, tessera-trans.com
Publisher: WBOOKS, Zwolle, wbooks.com

Thanks to the support of: 
Jaap Harten Fonds
De Gijselaar-Hintzenfonds
Hendrik Muller fonds
NLhave
Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam