The residence known as Steenhaag, situated along the Spaarne river, represents a pivotal early example of the architectural design principles practiced by Johannes Bernardus van Loghem. Designed in 1912 for himself and his wife, the textile artist Berta Neumeier, this project established his professional trajectory within the Netherlands during a period of significant transition in European design.
Formative Years and Education
Born in Haarlem in 1881, Van Loghem attended local schools before pursuing studies in civil engineering at the Polytechnical school in Delft. Between 1905 and 1909, he developed an aesthetic foundation influenced by Hendrik Petrus Berlage and the architectural style of Frank Lloyd Wright. Following his graduation, he returned to Haarlem to establish his practice, integrating furniture design and interior work into his broader portfolio.
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Van Loghem applied garden city planning concepts to several notable residential developments, including Rosenhaghe, Ter Cleef, and Tuinwijk-Zuid in Haarlem, as well as the Betondorp project in Amsterdam. His urban planning career also included industrial work, such as the design of 80 aggregate transformer buildings for a local electricity company. Between 1926 and 1928, he expanded his geographic reach by overseeing urban development for an industrial zone in central Siberia, focusing on the mining center of Kemerovo.
Theoretical Contributions and New Objectivity
Throughout his career, Van Loghem balanced professional practice with academic and political engagement. He served on the board of the league of Dutch architects from 1917 to 1919 and taught technical theory at the HBO in Amsterdam for nine years. In 1919, he joined contemporaries including Berlage and Theo van Doesburg to form the League of Revolutionary-Socialist Intellectuals. In later years, he became a proponent of New Objectivity, codifying these views in his 1932 book, Bouwen/Bauen/Bâtir/Building. This philosophy informed his later residential commissions, such as 't Kôrnegoar in Hengelo, the Knipscheer house in Waalre, and the Hartog house in Den Haag.
Fast facts
- Born: 1881, Haarlem
- Died: 26 February 1940, Haarlem
- Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Primary Occupations: Architect, urban planner, furniture designer
- Key Influences: Frank Lloyd Wright, Hendrik Petrus Berlage
- Academic Tenure: Taught at HBO in Amsterdam (1916–1925)
- Published Work: Bouwen/Bauen/Bâtir/Building (1932)
- Professional Association: Member of 'Opbouw'
Questions readers ask
What design movement did Van Loghem advocate in his later career?
He was an ardent advocate of New Objectivity, a functionalist approach to architecture that prioritized structure and purpose over historical ornament.
Did Van Loghem design buildings outside of the Netherlands?
Yes, between 1926 and 1928, he worked on urban development for an industrial region in central Siberia, centered around the town of Kemerovo.
