PEUTZ: HEERLEN, THE CITY AND ITS ARCHITECT

P. V. Delheij and M. J. M. Put

8.25 x 8.25 softcover book with 84 pages with 40 b/w photographs. Beautiful volume printed in two-color [black and blue] with a foreword by J. B. V. N. Pleumeeker. Includes a short essay on the city of Heerlen, a much longer chronological piece on Peutz and a bibliography.

From the web site Archimon: Frits Peutz was born in 1896 in Uithuizen (Gr) as the son of a catholic headmaster. To escape from the discrimination of catholics in the city of Groningen in 1910 he was sent to Rolduc (L) for his education. After his graduation in 1914 he went to the Technical University in Delft with the intention of becoming a civil engineer, but in 1916 he decided to become an architect instead. Although he was not graduated yet in 1919 he returned to Limburg and opened an office in Heerlen, in the heart of the mining district that offered many opportunities for young architects. In 1925 he finally finished his study. He became known for churches in a variety of more or less traditional styles, usually rooted in the traditions of his beloved province of Limburg, while in his profane work he turned out to be a true Modernist. His most important work is the Schunck department-store in Heerlen, a revolutionary construction of glass and concrete.

Peutz' use of two completely different styles and his aversion against, in his own words, the 'calvinistic-catholic dictatorship' of the Delft School in the 1930's made him controversial outside his province. Within Limburg he was much respected. During World War Two he wasn't allowed to work because of his refusal to join the nazi-controlled Kulturkammer ('chamber of culture'). After the war he restored several damaged churches, and also replaced several others. He continued his career until 1970 and died in Heerlen in 1974.

Spreads from this volume can be viewed here.

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