The Chasse Theatre in Breda, Netherlands was designed by Dutch architect Herman Hertzberger in 1992. What I think makes this so interesting is how Hertzberger nestled this modern looking theatre in between older municipal buildings and 19th century barracks. I feel it really makes the building stand out.

The building consists of three auditoriums that can be for either music or theater and which are flexible in arrangement to accommodate the specific performance. There are also two film theaters. This inside of the space is very open and invites the patrons to visit one another before and after performances. What I think really makes this stand out is the undulating roof that covers the entire building like waves.

Dutch architect Herman Hertzberger designed the Diagoon Experimental Housing in Delft, Netherlands in 1967. The design was Hertzberger’s attempt to get away from the stereotypical housing designs of the time which I appreciate. There were 8 different houses which were designed inside to be somewhat incomplete so the occupants themselves could decide how the space could be divided to fit their family’s needs.

The houses consist of two fixed areas with several half-story levels with no strict division between what is living and sleeping areas. These half-story areas can be partitioned off to create spaces for living, sleeping, study, play, or dining allowing for each family member to have his or her own space. This allows for the space to alter with a changing family or different occupants.

Dutch architect Herman Hertzberger designed the Montessori school in Delft, Netherlands in 1960. At the time, it was a very innovative design for school and classroom design. Rather than being the traditional square or rectangular shape, the classrooms were L-shaped with different zones within for learning.

Hertzberger thought that the entrances and outside areas of the school were as important as the inside. He wanted outdoor spaces that were an extension of the classrooms where creative learning and play could continue, but also felt it was important to keep the playground open for other area children to use after school. This design influenced many architects of schools throughout Europe.

The Willis Tower in Chicago is the second tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. It stands 1,450 feet high and 110 stories tall. The Willis Tower was completed in 1973 and took three years and 2,000 workers to build. It has the highest public viewing area in the U.S. at 1,353 feet above the ground.

My family and I went to Chicago when I was in middle school. One of the biggest things I wanted to do was go up the Willis Tower to the Ledge of the Sky Deck. It is basically a glass box that sticks out from the building on the 103rd floor. The elevator ride to the 103rd floor was even awesome; it was incredibly fast. Let me start off by saying that I am not afraid of heights. I was not scared to walk out onto the Ledge and was fine UNTIL I looked down. It was absolutely terrifying and awesome at the same time. It was a perfect day, no clouds and we could see so far. It was an experience I will never forget.

https://theskydeck.com/for-kids/fun-facts/

The Gateway Arch is an iconic monument located in St. Louis, Missouri. The Arch was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen (who won a design contest). Construction of the monument started in 1963 and was complete in 1965. It stands at 630 feet high making it the tallest monument in the U.S.

When I was younger, we used to go to St. Louis about once a year because two of my aunts lived there. We would always drive by the Arch on our way in and out of town. After begging for years to stop and look, finally one day we did. We took the tram to the top which is really cool and somewhat terrifying at the same time. No one warned me that it sways a little back and forth which is a little disconcerting, but apparently is designed that way. To me, the Gateway Arch is a very unique and awesome monument and I never get tired of seeing it when I drive through St. Louis.

https://www.gatewayarch.com/experience/about/#our-visitors-have-been-seeing-differently-from-the-very-beginning

The Centraal Beheer offices in Apeldoorn, Netherlands were designed by Herman Hertzberger and completed in 1972. Hertzberger is one of the most famous Dutch architects who founded his own firm Architectuurstudio HH (AHH) in 1960 and received the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects’ Royal Gold Medal in 2012.

According to AHH, the Centraal Beheer offices consist of “sixty tower-like cubes connected on each floor by overpasses.” Hertzberger used materials that were reviled by the modernists of the time like metal and glass and concrete blocks. He wanted the inside to be open and designed an internal street to encourage social interaction among the employees and guests. The glass roof and light wells brought in a lot of natural light, which he felt was important for the well-being of the employees.

I moved into Couch as a freshman in 2018. It was an exciting time – moving away from home and the parents and starting a whole new chapter in my life. I remember noticing moving day that the outside wasn’t anything special; just a tall, ugly brick building but I could’ve cared less. When I walked in however I remember thinking this place is really old. I was right – it was built in 1966 and I’m pretty sure nothing had changed much since. My dorm room itself was not much better. It was the size of a large closet and felt claustrophobic. Even though I was moving in with my really good friend, I knew this was going to be rough. Within the first month, our toilet overflowed flooding much of the room which wasn’t great. It wasn’t all bad of course. Being close to campus was awesome, the freedom I had was fantastic, and I became close friends with my suite-mates as well as many other people. We made many great memories there but as for the building itself, I don’t miss it one bit.