Johan van der Mey
Encyclopedia
Johan Melchior van der Mey (19 August 1878, Delfshaven
– 6 June 1949, Geulle
) was a Dutch architect
best known for the landmark Scheepvaarthuis (Shipping House) building in Amsterdam
located at Prins Hendrikkade, 1012.
Van der Mey was a student of Eduard Cuypers
from 1898, won the Dutch version of the Prix de Rome
in 1906, and got a job with the city of Amsterdam as an "Aesthetic Advisor". In 1905 Amsterdam had been the first city in the world to impose a building code, and they hired van der Mey as their civic building artist. In this capacity he developed the facade for the 1912 Palm House at the Hortus Bontanicus
among other buildings.
That same year brought the commisison for the Scheepvaarthuis, a large cooperative building for six Dutch shipping companies. Van der Mey sought the assistance of his former colleague-architects Michel de Klerk
and Piet Kramer
, and another architect named A.D.N. van Gendt was responsible for engineering the concrete structure.
Van der Mey's job was to coordinate the extensive symbolic art and sculptural program, inside and outside. Much of the sculpture is the work of Hildo Krop
and H.A. van den Eijnde, but a large group of well-known artists contributed.
The Scheepvaarthuis is a high point of the Amsterdam School
of building. Michel de Klerk went on to become its most important representative. Van der Mey also designed bridges and housing complexes in south Amsterdam and around the city's Mercatorplein.
Delfshaven
Delfshaven is a borough of Rotterdam on the right bank of river Nieuwe Maas, in South Holland, the Netherlands. It was a separate municipality until 1886.The town of Delfshaven grew around the port of the city of Delft...
– 6 June 1949, Geulle
Meerssen
Meerssen is a place and a municipality in southeastern Netherlands.-History:The Treaty of Meerssen was signed in Meerssen in 870. The Treaty of Meerssen was an agreement of the division of the Carolingian Empire by the surviving sons of Louis I, Charles II of the West Franks and Louis the German...
) was a Dutch architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
best known for the landmark Scheepvaarthuis (Shipping House) building in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
located at Prins Hendrikkade, 1012.
Van der Mey was a student of Eduard Cuypers
Eduard Cuypers
Eduard Cuypers was a Dutch architect.Cuypers was trained in the architectural practice of his uncle P.J.H. Cuypers and in 1881 set up his own office in Amsterdam. His good contacts with businessmen earned him commissions for offices, shops and houses...
from 1898, won the Dutch version of the Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...
in 1906, and got a job with the city of Amsterdam as an "Aesthetic Advisor". In 1905 Amsterdam had been the first city in the world to impose a building code, and they hired van der Mey as their civic building artist. In this capacity he developed the facade for the 1912 Palm House at the Hortus Bontanicus
Hortus Botanicus (Amsterdam)
Hortus Botanicus is a botanical garden in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. One of the oldest in the world, it is one of Amsterdam's major tourist attractions.- History:...
among other buildings.
That same year brought the commisison for the Scheepvaarthuis, a large cooperative building for six Dutch shipping companies. Van der Mey sought the assistance of his former colleague-architects Michel de Klerk
Michel de Klerk
Michel de Klerk was a Dutch architect.He was one of the founding architects of the movement Amsterdam School. Early in his career he worked for other architects, including Eduard Cuypers. Of his many outstanding designs, very few have actually been built...
and Piet Kramer
Piet Kramer
Pieter Lodewijk Kramer was a Dutch architect, one of the most important architects of the Amsterdam School ....
, and another architect named A.D.N. van Gendt was responsible for engineering the concrete structure.
Van der Mey's job was to coordinate the extensive symbolic art and sculptural program, inside and outside. Much of the sculpture is the work of Hildo Krop
Hildo Krop
Hildebrand Lucien Krop was a prolific Dutch sculptor and furniture designer, widely known as the city sculptor of Amsterdam, where his work is well-represented.-Life:...
and H.A. van den Eijnde, but a large group of well-known artists contributed.
The Scheepvaarthuis is a high point of the Amsterdam School
Amsterdam School
The Amsterdam School is a style of architecture that arose from 1910 through about 1930 in The Netherlands...
of building. Michel de Klerk went on to become its most important representative. Van der Mey also designed bridges and housing complexes in south Amsterdam and around the city's Mercatorplein.