The Scheepvaarthuis building at Prins Hendrikkade serves as the definitive structural manifestation of the Amsterdam School, a movement inaugurated by Dutch architect Joan van der Mey. Beyond his primary contributions to urban planning and civic design, van der Mey maintained a diverse creative output that encompassed graphic arts, jewelry design, and the specialized metalwork of an artistic blacksmith.
Early Career and Education
Born in Delfshaven in 1878, van der Mey established his formal architectural foundation under the tutelage of Eduard Cuypers starting in 1898. His academic potential was recognized early with the receipt of the Prix de Rome in architecture in 1906. This accolade preceded his transition into civic service, where he accepted a position as an aesthetic advisor for the city of Amsterdam. In 1905, Amsterdam became the first municipality globally to enforce a codified building code, a regulatory environment that facilitated van der Mey's appointment as a civic building artist.
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Van der Mey acted as the central coordinator for the construction of the Scheepvaarthuis in 1912. This collaborative project united six distinct Dutch shipping firms under one roof. To manage the project's complex requirements, he recruited architects Michel de Klerk and Piet Kramer, while Adolf Daniël Nicolaas van Gendt oversaw the engineering of the reinforced concrete skeleton. Van der Mey focused his personal efforts on the intricate symbolic sculptural program integrated into both the exterior and interior facades, employing the artistic services of Hildo Krop and H. A. van den Eijnde to execute these decorative elements.
Civic Projects and Infrastructure
Beyond his monumental commercial works, van der Mey contributed to the architectural landscape of Amsterdam through a variety of civic commissions. His professional portfolio included the 1912 Palm House at the Hortus Botanicus, the Hugo de Vries Laboratorium, the Pier Pandertempel, and Bridge 283. His urban planning efforts extended to residential complexes located in southern Amsterdam and the vicinity of Mercatorplein. Van der Mey remained active within the Kingdom of the Netherlands until his death in 1949 at Geulle.
Fast facts
- Born: 1878, Delfshaven
- Died: 1949, Geulle
- Movement: Amsterdam School
- Key Award: Prix de Rome in architecture (1906)
- Primary Field: Architecture
- Secondary Occupations: Graphic artist, jewelry designer, artistic blacksmith
- Notable Landmark: Scheepvaarthuis (1912)
- Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
Questions readers ask
What was Joan van der Mey's role in the Amsterdam School?
He is identified as the originator of the style and served as the project coordinator for the Scheepvaarthuis.
Did van der Mey design infrastructure outside of office buildings?
Yes, his projects included bridges, housing complexes in southern Amsterdam, and botanical research structures like the Hugo de Vries Laboratorium.
Achievements
- Notable work: Bridge 283
- Notable work: Hugo de Vries Laboratorium
- Notable work: Pier Pandertempel
- Notable work: Scheepvaarthuis
- Prix de Rome in architecture
- Movement: Amsterdam School
