Het Witte Huis and the rise of the American high-rise buildings

Abstract

The Great Fire of Chicago in 1871 destroyed almost the entire city. As a result, the Chicago School of Architecture emerged, which is characterised by high-rise buildings with steel skeleton frames. This architectural movement spread beyond America and influenced cities worldwide. This thesis analyses the impact of the American high-rise movement and its influence on Rotterdam, the Netherlands, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The case study of Het Witte Huis (The White House), designed by Willem Molenbroek in 1898, which is often compared to the American high-rise movement, is used to illustrate this influence, the impact that it had on the city and whether it can truly be seen as an American high-rise building. This thesis aims to conduct a comparative analysis of architectural development in America, drawing insights from various texts written by Gwendolyn Wright and John Zukowsky. A further investigation was done into how the American architectural high-rise movement influenced Dutch architecture, utilising works by Jeffrey W. Cody and Herman van Bergeijk. Insights from this research were used to investigate Het Witte Huis, using texts, historical newspapers and magazines. The investigation covered aspects such as the reasons behind its design, similarities with American structures, public opinion, and its impact on Rotterdam's architectural development. The findings from this research showed how Het Witte Huis serves as an example of the integration of American influences with local context. Although it features American-inspired high-rise design elements, its construction method aligns more closely with traditional Dutch practices. While Het Witte Huis did not directly inspire subsequent high-rise constructions in Rotterdam and faced mixed reactions, it stimulated future experimentation and innovation in Dutch architecture. The city developed its unique architectural identity, exemplified by projects like the Van Nelle Factory.