What is pinafore architecture (schortjesarchitectuur)?
Pinafore architecture (Dutch: schortjesarchitectuur) is a mocking term for a way of building in which an architect designs only the front facade, while a draughtsman or builder fills in the floor plans and the other facades. The facade hangs like a “pinafore” in front of an otherwise ordinary, often standard housing block.
The term is associated with Amsterdam housing of the 1920s. Architects of the Amsterdam School were brought in for the prominent street facades; this made it easier to get the plans approved by the Schoonheidscommissie (the Dutch beauty committee, forerunner of today’s welstandscommissie, a design review panel). The architects of the later Nieuwe Zakelijkheid (Dutch New Objectivity) used the term as criticism: they felt that the Amsterdam School paid too much attention to the exterior and too little to a good layout, daylight and usability for the residents.
Application
The term is used mainly in architectural history and building archaeology. For anyone who owns or renovates such a building, it is a useful concept:
- Front and back differ greatly. A richly detailed front facade (decorative brickwork, special window frames, leaded glass) may go together with plain rear facades and standard floor plans. So do not automatically expect the same quality or detailing behind the facade.
- Check the status. Many of these housing blocks lie within a protected townscape or are listed buildings. Changes to the front facade, window frames and dormers then often require permission; check with the local authority beforehand.
- Changing the floor plan is often possible. Precisely because the floor plans are simple, combining units or reorganising the layout within the building is often quite feasible, as long as load-bearing walls are assessed structurally.
- Insulate on the inside. Because the front facade defines the streetscape, external wall insulation on the street side is usually not an option; choose carefully designed internal insulation to prevent moisture and condensation problems.
Related Terms
- The Amsterdam School
- False facade
- Façade architecture
- Internal wall insulation
- Listed building (monument)
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