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ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AMSTERDAM (SINT CATHARINE)

EVERS & SARLEMIJN, 1955-1956, Burgemeester Eliasstraat / Burgemeester Vening Meineszlaan, Amsterdam

ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Aat Evers
Geert Sarlemijn

ARTIST:
Jan Meefout
Abram Stokhof de Jong
Marinus Zwollo

ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Evers & Sarlemijn

BUILDING TYPE:
Religious buildings

Built in accordance with Van Eesteren's pre-war General Extension Plan, the 'Western garden suburbs' together with Rotterdam's reconstruction programme are the pre-eminent examples of an optimistic, functional post-war architecture and an open democratic society. But post-war Dutch society was as deeply entrenched in its religio-political divisions as ever. Amidst the time-bound qualities of the modern, even modish reconstruction-era housing, the architects of this House of God sought to design something timeless and traditional. There is no tower, so that emphasis comes to lie on the main church space, picked out by its roof. Other buildings in the ensemble are a vicarage, a nursery school with a freestanding games room, a convent and a primary school. Three blocks of classrooms and the convent enfold a courtyard.