Monuments on campus: ‘You cannot keep everything’

We start the tour at the Aula. A visit to this building is literally an everyday feast for many students and staff members. Not because of the halls, but because of the restaurant on the ground floor. This striking building will be open for everybody this Saturday, 13 September, because of Open Monument Day with this year’s theme: Architectural Heritage.

The Aula is the epitome of brutalist architecture. Van Bergeijk explains that “The plan was to build another tower on top of it, but that did not go ahead because of the high cost.” As a former TU Delft teacher, the experienced architecture historian knows firsthand the history of the campus and the value of TU Delft’s buildings. It may seem to be a purely functional building, but it is actually decorative. He calls the support pillars ‘frogs’ legs’ that are ‘articulated’ and shaped. “Concrete was a new material at the time, and symbolised belief in progress.” He points to round shapes in the concrete that support the big hall. And what are the lines in the concrete? This is an effect of the formwork. “This makes it tactile and you want to touch it,” says Van Bergeijk.

‘Sacred. It feels a bit like a cathedral, a cathedral for science’

In the Aula, you first need to climb up two steps. “To let you distance yourself from the world. You go up in the world of academia.” Van Bergeijk caresses a grooved pillar. “Sacred. It feels a bit like a cathedral, a cathedral for science. It is the entrance for the TU Delft neighbourhood.” Van Bergeijk points to the next feature. “Look at that staircase, at its beautiful diagonal lines.” Van Bergeijk says that the many striking stairs give the building a hilly, almost mountainous character. Beautiful to look at, but less practical for wheelchair users for example. In the period that the building was being designed, little thought was given to this. However, on Open Monuments Day the building will be open for people who are less mobile.

The eye-catching concrete steps outside the building currently only serve as an emergency exit. The balconies, that also stand out, are closed too. “This is a shame in these times as TU Delft cannot be the open institution it would like to be,” says Van Bergeijk.

Half-heartedly

We walk on across the campus, along the Mechanical Engineering building opposite the Aula. “After the Second World War, TU Delft wanted to show technological and societal progress. These buildings were meant to illustrate that. Typical Dutch that it is always a bit half-hearted.” The building work was done in phases and the design was regularly adapted to the changing and growing needs in education and research. “Various architects were involved. And you see this immediately in the building opposite – it is much more classical, less outspoken.” The only things Van Bergeijk likes are the glass staircases on the side. And yet, this building is a municipal and national listed building. “Yeah, well, we now have so many listed buildings and every year another 100 icons are added.” Is he arguing for less iconic, more boring buildings? “Absolutely. How many monuments can a city have?”

The Architecture building was built in around 1920, the peak of the Amsterdam school

On to the Architecture and the Built Environment building. It was originally built to accommodate the chemistry labs. This is clear from the water tower which is needed in case of a fire in one of the laboratories. Van Bergeijk points to an ‘expressive use of brick’ and attractive terracotta ornaments which used to contain drainage channels to ventilate the labs. “It was built in around 1920, the peak of the Amsterdam school. During the First World War, there was less building work and it was plainer because of the shortage of materials. After that there was again room for this kind of decoration.” It is a good representation that shows how TU Delft used to design its academic and teaching facilities, says Van Bergeijk.

Inside, everything was done to make the building suitable for the Architecture and the Built Environment Faculty, that moved in after the original building was destroyed by a fire in 2008. But to Van Bergeijk, this was not a great success. “To me, this building says that its heyday has passed. That it enjoyed its heyday, but that it’s not really an architectural building. Architects need to be able to mess around with glue and other things as this is much too chic.”

Big but modest

And on to EEMCS. The tallest building on campus and visible from the whole city. The building expresses the growth of technology and academia in the 1960s. The reactions to the nomination of EEMCS as a listed building are extreme. They run from enthusiastic to surprised. What does Van Bergeijk think? “It does have a sort of refinement. Its thin lines do give it a certain melody. In any case, the building is not brash. It is big but at the same time it is modest. It could have been made to fit the urban environment better, but it is an expression of individualism. It is a landmark.”

While we enter the building Van Bergeijk points to the pattern of stones that continues from the outside in. “This represents openness and accessibility for everyone.” He points to one of the concrete columns that are far less noticeable than at the Aula. Here they are hidden behind a layer of chalk.

A little further we come across some maintenance work. Amin Haddadi, a maintenance crew member, is working hard on repairing leaking red radiators in the corridor on the ground floor. “I think it’s a beautiful building. Great that it is now on the list to become a national monument,” he says proudly. Will there be any consequences for maintenance if EEMCS really does get listed? “We are currently working on making it more sustainable.” Haddadi taps the single-glazed window in the corridor. “I don’t know what will be permitted or not, but I think we have to keep everything in its original state.”

The Cultural Heritage Agency has already said that this is not necessarily the case. The building must be usable. To enable this to happen, they will consult TU Delft.

While we continue walking down the long corridors, Van Bergeijk points out special features here and there, such as the plinths. “It is a special building, but there are a lot of special buildings. You cannot keep everything. Young people have the right to create their own heroes.  There must be progress. That means you shouldn’t try to embalm everything. Every generation should have the opportunity to take the next step.”