Tjeerd Kuipers
The principles of Abraham Kuyper in the work of Tjeerd Kuipers
J.P. Droogendijk (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
A.J. Oxenaar – Mentor (TU Delft - History, Form & Aesthetics)
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Abstract
Tjeerd Kuipers (1857-1942) was a renowned architect, constructing over 50 churches. His churches were mainly for the Dutch denomination Gereformeerde Kerken. Abraham Kuyper, a theologian from these churches, published his ideas on church interiors from 1897. The main idea was to construct the church in an amphitheatre-shape, with a large platform or stage in front. On that platform, the liturgical furniture had to be placed. Tjeerd Kuipers incorporated most of these ideas in the Wilhelminakerk in Dordrecht (1899). In earlier work, these principles were not yet visible, and Kuipers’ churches had a very traditional setup. The churches after the Wilhelminakerk feature some aspects of the ideas of Kuyper, such as a platform, a lectern-type pulpit, or the removal of the baptismal fence. However, the full vision of Kuyper did not return anymore in the work of Tjeerd Kuipers. Kuipers himself gives the reason for this: lots of aspects from Kuyper’s ideas did not work properly in practice. Therefore, it can be concluded that the ideas inspired Kuipers, but they had only minor influence on most of the churches he designed.