Fight against housing shortage
In the 1960s, the Netherlands wanted to end the enormous housing shortage at all costs. At a rapid pace, thousands of homes were built. Housing construction was large-scale and massive. In Zoetermeer, examples of that large-scale housing construction can be seen in Palenstein, Driemanspolder and Meerzicht.
In the fight against the housing shortage, the government kept a tight rein on construction. The Ministry of Housing granted additional advantages in the housing market to construction companies that developed cost- and time-saving building systems. The input of architects was greatly reduced.
Buildings were constructed according to modernist principles, but they were now taken to extremes. Living, working and recreation were separated even more strongly, the space around the buildings became larger and cars were given even more space.
In city neighborhoods dominate very large residential apartments surrounded by greenery of park-like dimensions. For cars there are very ample parking facilities. The prime example of typical 1960s construction is the gallery flat. Horizontal lines dominate thanks to the repetition of galleries and balconies and the visible concrete floor edges in the facade. The abundance of glass and light colors gives the architecture an open and optimistic look.
Examples
