The Bastille student facility at the University of Twente represents the early career of Piet Blom, an architect whose structuralist designs challenged conventional post-war housing. Active between 1964 and 1999, he focused on civic megastructures and residential projects within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, leaving behind a legacy defined by unique geometry and functional experimentation.
Education and Structuralism
Born in Amsterdam in 1934, Piet Blom pursued formal architectural training at the Academie van Bouwkunst Amsterdam. During his studies, he came under the influence of Aldo van Eyck. This academic background placed him within the structuralist movement, alongside contemporaries such as Herman Hertzberger. His early professional promise was confirmed in 1962 when he received the Dutch Prix de Rome.
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Blom managed a diverse range of projects, transitioning from institutional facilities to experimental housing developments. His design for the Bastille, constructed between 1964 and 1969 at the University of Twente, served as both a restaurant and student facility. Shortly after, he undertook the Kasbah housing project in Hengelo, which was built from 1969 to 1973. Throughout his career, he balanced his dual roles as an architect and designer while maintaining employment with the Werkplaats voor Publieke Werken.
The Cube House Projects
The most widely recognized elements of Blom's portfolio are his cube houses, characterized by their unconventional orientation and form. The initial series of these structures appeared in Helmond, constructed between 1972 and 1976. This model was later replicated in Rotterdam, where he developed a larger cluster between 1978 and 1984. The site in Helmond now honors this contribution through the naming of Piet Blomplein.
Legacy and Preservation
Piet Blom died in 1999 while in Denmark, at the age of 65. His impact continues to be monitored through the physical survival of his buildings. In May 2013, a museum dedicated to his professional output was opened within the Kasbah complex in Hengelo. These structures remain occupied, serving the daily needs of residents and students who interact with his designs decades after their completion.
Fast facts
- Born: 1934, Amsterdam
- Died: 1999, Denmark
- Education: Academie van Bouwkunst Amsterdam
- 1962 Prix de Rome recipient
- Key work: Cube Houses, Rotterdam
- Associated movement: Structuralism
Questions readers ask
Where can one view a museum dedicated to Piet Blom?
A museum dedicated to his works opened in May 2013 at the Kasbah housing project in Hengelo.
Which major architectural movement was Blom associated with?
He was a representative of the Structuralism movement, along with Aldo van Eyck and Herman Hertzberger.
Achievements
- Trained at Academie van Bouwkunst Amsterdam
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