Bernard Bijvoet (1889-1979) into the Spotlights

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In 2017, Vantilt Publishers released the publication Bernard Bijvoet (1889-1979). Cher maître van de Nederlandse architectuur, authored by Jan Molema (1935) and Suzy Leemans (1967). This book offers the first comprehensive overview of the life and work of one of the most underrated civil engineers in the Netherlands. The research underpinning this richly illustrated volume has also led to some surprising discoveries. Despite Bernard Bijvoet's extensive portfolio, which includes significant and renowned buildings such as the Zonnestraal Sanatorium near Hilversum, Hotel Okura in Amsterdam, and the Maison de Verre in Paris, no prior overview of his work had been published. This oversight can largely be attributed to Bijvoet's character; he preferred to remain in the background, often overshadowed by his collaborations with Jan Duiker, Pierre Chareau, Eugène Beaudouin, Marcel Lods, and Gerard Holt. Consequently, architectural history often relegates him to a supporting role, which undermines his true importance to twentieth-century architecture. His work was highly regarded by esteemed colleagues both in the Netherlands and abroad, including Le Corbusier. 

In collaboration with Jan Molema, Jap Sam Books has now taken the initiative to publish an English edition. This new edition has been revised and expanded from the Dutch version by Vantilt, featuring a foreword by Kenneth Frampton. This beautiful, richly illustrated biography provides an excellent overview of Bijvoet's remarkable buildings and his contributions to the Modern Movement.

Jan Molema (1935) has served as a lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Architecture at Delft University of Technology and has worked as an independent architect. He earned his PhD with a thesis on Antonio Gaudí, founded the Building Analysis Foundation, and has produced numerous publications and exhibitions.

Suzy Leemans (1967) was previously associated with Braakmans & Roos architects in The Hague and taught at the Faculty of Architecture at Delft University of Technology. She currently operates as an independent researcher. Alongside Jan Molema, she co-authored Modernity in a Conservative Environment: Jan Albarda and the Delft Group (Jap Sam Books, 2010).

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€39.95

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