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Gratama, Jan
(b Groningen, 16 Aug 1877; d Amsterdam, 1947). Dutch architect and writer. His most important service to Dutch architecture was his work on the councils of the main Dutch architectural associations. After studying at the Technische Hogeschool in Delft (1896–1903), he became general secretary of the Maatschappij tot Bevordering der Bouwkunst (Society for the Promotion of Architecture) and editor of the journals Bouwkundig weekblad and Bouwkunst. In 1917 as chairman, helped by Hendrik T. Wijdeveld and J. F. Staal, he reorganized the Architectura en Amicitia society into a platform for AMSTERDAM SCHOOL architects. From 1917 Gratama developed into a classicist among Amsterdam school architects, as in the country house (1918) in Bennebroek and the Incassobank (1929) at Enschede. The picturesque layout of the Transvaal district (1916–19) in Amsterdam and a single country house are exceptions. Although he was a great champion of new construction methods and the flat roof combined with traditional materials, innovative building was never the point of departure in his designs; for example in those for the garden suburb Watergraafsmeer (1922) in Amsterdam, which are mainly concrete houses. An important source of inspiration for Gratama was the balanced classicism of K. P. C. de Bazel. In his loveliest work, the plan for Amsterdam’s stadium district (1922–8), he showed himself to be a careful pupil of H. P. Berlage. From 1930 his designs displayed increasing references to classical Dutch brick architecture of the 18th century, especially the competition design (1945; unexecuted) for the Stadhuis at Ede. Political activities during the German occupation brought an end to his career in 1945.
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