In the 1920s, Brick Expressionism spread to Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, leaving behind incredibly ornate buildings of swirling brick. One of the most outstanding examples of this style is the former post office in Utrecht. The building impresses with its symbolic ornaments and large brick arches. Despite the closure of all Dutch post offices at the beginning of the 21st century, the Utrecht building still functions today as a library.
The busy site
A monastery once stood on the plot of land of the former post office on Neude Square in Utrecht. However, during the Reformation, the monastery building was taken over by the local authorities and in the 17th century the royal mint was established on the plot. The current building was not built until 1924, after the plot was bought by the Dutch state post office.
The mighty brick post office was a design by Joseph Crouwel, who at the time built several more buildings in a similar brick style. Crouwel was inspired by the Amsterdam School, popular in the very early 1920s, according to which brick edifices should impress with ornamentation, sculptures and art throughout the design. The Dutch school was part of the Brick Expressionism movement, which was popularised in Germany. You can read about stunning examples of this style HERE and HERE.
Brick arches
A risalit with a hipped roof protrudes from the monumental façade structure. The two large brick pillars jutting out from the block are somewhat reminiscent of elements of Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen’s designs. His combination of Modernism and Art Nouveau, pioneering in this part of Europe, inspired Crouwel to create the geometric ornamentation of the façade. Note the wrinkled tops of the brick pillars and the tall, but narrow windows.
Upon entering, the dark brick turns a cheerful yellow. The great hall now used as a reading room impresses with its parabolic arches on the ceiling. The narrow glazing between the arches lets a lot of light in. The arches are not the only forms of play with brick by the architect. Brick trusses and geometric patterns can be seen on the walls, and the clock hanging above the entrance looks as if it is made of brick itself. In fact, the clock was created by the famous Delft faience factory. Coloured ceramic forms the hexagonal face of the clock.
Opposite the decorated clock, the artists arranged the Dutch coat of arms with the noted lion – the crest jewel of the Nassau dynasty. Hidden beneath the ornamentation are arcaded windows with columns. An important colour accent is the deep black of the Belgian Petit Granit stone. The artist Hendrik van den Eijnde carved figures representing the continents into it. Their style is reminiscent of Egyptian art, which fascinated the sculptor in the 1920s. Visible are figures representing America with bulls at their feet and Europe with a globe in their hands. Reliefs of homing pigeons stretch alongside the five sculptures. In the interior, it is also easy to find references to transport, trade and prosperity.
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The upper rooms wind around the parabolic vaulted ceiling. After significant renovations in the 1970s and a remodelling in 2020, the attic was turned into another place to read and borrow books. The library’s modern interiors are characterised by simplicity and bright colours. The redeveloped edifice houses a cinema, reading room, cafés, office space, a bookshop and even underground bicycle parking.
The redevelopment of the building has saved Utrecht’s heritage of brick expressionism. After the privatisation of the Dutch post office in 2008, the fate of the building was uncertain. Interestingly, the Utrecht Post Office only closed as the last post office in 2011. For several years the building stood without concrete plans for a metamorphosis, but in 2016 architects from Zecc Architecten and Rijnboutt began to make changes to the century-old building. Today, the building is not only the home of the city’s library, but also a unique cultural centre.
Source: Ontdek Utrecht
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