The architectural abacus and the morphotheque served as fundamental teaching tools developed by Hans van der Laan to demonstrate his theory of numerical relationships. This Dutch architect, who transitioned from his secular studies at the Delft University of Technology to become a Benedictine monk in 1927, redefined spatial aesthetics through the application of the plastic ratio.
Formative Years and Monastic Transition
Born in 1904 in Leiden, Van der Laan was the ninth of eleven children born to architect Leo van der Laan and Anna Stadhouder. A bout of tuberculosis at age seventeen forced him into a sanatorium, where he dedicated his time to mastering higher mathematics. He began his architecture studies at Delft University of Technology in 1923, though he left before completion. In 1927, he entered St. Paul's Abbey in Oosterhout, later moving to St. Benedictusberg Abbey near Vaals. Ordained as a priest in 1934, he rediscovered his passion for design while serving as the abbey's sacristan.
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Following World War II, Van der Laan and his brother Nico conducted courses at the Kruithuis in 's-Hertogenbosch to train architects for postwar reconstruction. These lectures centered on the early Christian basilica and birthed the Bossche School movement. Central to his teachings was the plastic ratio, a three-dimensional adaptation of the golden ratio, which he formalized to quantify aesthetic proportions. He utilized his custom teaching aids, the architectural abacus for two-dimensional relationships and the morphotheque for three-dimensional forms, to impart these geometric principles to his followers.
Architectural Execution
Van der Laan’s built output remained selective, characterized by Christian structures and liturgical focus. His most notable project is the church at St. Benedictusberg Abbey, completed in stages between 1956 and 1968. He also designed the Roosenberg Abbey in Waasmunster, Belgium, and the Naalden House in Best. His final commission, the Benedictine monastery in Tomelilla, Sweden, reached completion shortly after his 1991 death in Lemiers. Beyond buildings, he crafted the specific furniture and fittings to ensure total spatial harmony within his designs.
Theoretical Contributions
Throughout his career, he documented his philosophy in several seminal publications. These include his 1967 work, Het plastisch getal, and his 1977 treatise, De architectonische ruimte, translated as Architectonic Space. His later work, Het vormenspel der liturgie (1985), explored the relationship between religious ritual and the built environment. These texts solidified his influence on modern architecture, establishing a legacy centered on the intersection of monastic life and rigorous spatial systematics.
Fast facts
- Born: 1904, Leiden
- Died: 1991, Lemiers, Vaals
- Education: Delft University of Technology
- Movement: Bossche School
- Notable Work: St. Benedictusberg Abbey
- Major Theory: Plastic Ratio
- Ordination Year: 1934
- Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
Questions readers ask
What was the Bossche School?
It was an architectural movement led by Hans van der Laan and his brother Nico, focused on post-war reconstruction using early Christian basilica principles.
What is the plastic ratio?
It is a theory of numerical relationships developed by Van der Laan that serves as a three-dimensional expression of the golden ratio.
Achievements
- Movement: Bossche School
- Trained at Delft University of Technology
