A House to Live With is the first comprehensive study of the residential architecture produced by Dom Hans van der Laan and his students, mapping the dimensional and compositional principles of 16 houses built between 1966 and 1985 through newly commissioned photographs and plans.
About This Book
Dom Hans van der Laan (1904–91) occupies a singular position in post-war European architectural theory. The Dutch Benedictine monk devoted his practice to uncovering fundamental numerical relationships and dimensional systems—ideas that reshaped mid-twentieth-century thinking about proportion and space. This volume examines the housing designs produced under his Ecclesiastical Architecture course in s-Hertogenbosch, which he directed from 1946 to 1973, bringing together essays on his mathematical and compositional principles, the influence of ancient Roman architecture on his thinking, and the spatial logic of the house-and-garden relationship. For architects and theorists interested in proportion, modularity, and the philosophical underpinnings of architectural form, this is essential primary material.
Key Features
- 420 pages of newly produced photographs, plans, and analytical essays on residential architecture
- Authors: Caroline Voet and Hans W. van der Laan
- 16 houses built between 1966 and 1985 examined in full compositional and design detail
- Published by Park Books, 2024 (ISBN 9783038603764)
What You'll Discover
- How Van der Laan's numerical relationships and dimensional systems translate into built residential form across 16 specific case studies
- The role of ancient Roman architecture as a source of influence on Van der Laan's spatial and proportional thinking
- The spatial significance of the house-garden and house-patio relationship within Van der Laan's design philosophy
- Why the placement of a single large table within the house was considered a compositional act of fundamental importance by Van der Laan
About the Author
Caroline Voet is a researcher and architect whose work engages with the legacy of Dom Hans van der Laan. Hans W. van der Laan contributes to the volume as a close relation to the architect's broader intellectual circle. Full contributor details are available upon request.
Specifications
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 420
- Dimensions: 21 × 28 cm
- Language: English
- ISBN: 9783038603764
- Publisher: Park Books
- Publication Date: [Details available upon request]
Perfect For: Architects, architectural historians, and theorists with an interest in proportion, modularity, and the philosophical foundations of post-war European modernism; students researching Van der Laan's dimensional systems or the intersection of monastic thought and architectural practice.