The Helios building on Spui square, designed in 1895 and 1896, represents a pivotal shift in the career of Gerrit van Arkel. As a Dutch architect active in the Netherlands, he moved to Amsterdam in 1883 to establish his practice, eventually shaping the urban character of the city through a distinctive evolution of architectural expression.
Stylistic Evolution
Van Arkel initially practiced within the Neo-Gothic and Neo-Renaissance traditions. By 1894, he pivoted toward a restrained variation of Jugendstil, commonly referred to as Nieuwe Stijl. Heavily influenced by the work of H. P. Berlage, this approach emphasized structural clarity over excessive ornamentation. His compositions frequently featured bay windows, loggias, and asymmetrical arrangements of towers, domes, and balconies.
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His portfolio includes significant commercial and industrial structures across Amsterdam. Notable examples include the bakery for D.C. Stähle on Spuistraat in 1898 and an office building for The Marine Insurance Company Limited on the Rokin in 1901. In 1904 and 1905, he completed the Astoria office building for the Eerste Hollandsche Levensverzekerings Bank on the Keizersgracht canal. Perhaps his most recognized industrial work is the Asscher diamond factory on Tolstraat, finished in 1907, which served as the site where the Cullinan Diamond was cut. He also designed the Diamond Exchange on Weesperplein, completed in 1911.
Recognition and Legacy
The architect achieved international recognition when his design for the Helios building secured third prize at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris. Following his death in 1918 in Abcoude, his contribution to the Dutch architectural landscape remained preserved through his surviving works. In 2001, twelve of his Amsterdam buildings received national monument status. Furthermore, the Asscher diamond factory holds a nomination for national monument designation, with an additional seventeen buildings in the city under consideration for municipal monument status.
Fast facts
- Born: 3 April 1858, Loenen aan de Vecht
- Died: 11 July 1918, Abcoude
- Nationality: Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Primary style: Jugendstil (Nieuwe Stijl)
- Significant project: Asscher diamond factory
- Professional debut: 1883, Amsterdam
Questions readers ask
What is the Nieuwe Stijl?
It is a sobre, restrained version of Jugendstil influenced by H. P. Berlage, adopted by van Arkel after 1894.
How many of his buildings are national monuments?
Twelve buildings in Amsterdam were designated as national monuments in 2001.
