Discover the '1923: Horiguchi Meets the Amsterdam School' Exhibition: Japanese Architecture and Design in Amsterdam

This exhibition explores the significant visit of Japanese architect Sutemi Horiguchi to Amsterdam in 1923, where he encountered the Amsterdam School movement. It highlights his fascination with the fusion of architecture and art, particularly in the context of social housing.

One hundred years ago, on September 29, 1923, the recently graduated Japanese architect Sutemi Horiguchi visited the newly completed social housing complex Het Schip in Amsterdam. This architectural landmark, part of the Amsterdam School movement, garnered international attention, yet remained largely unknown in Horiguchi's homeland. At a time when Japanese architecture often overlooked the artistic potential of design, Horiguchi was keenly interested in Europe's evolving relationship between art and architecture. His journey through Europe, partly funded by his father, led him to Amsterdam, where he encountered the Amsterdam School and was profoundly moved by its aesthetic. He recalled seeing "workers living in beautiful buildings like palaces or museums," a sentiment that deeply impressed him. Upon his return to Japan, Horiguchi published a book in 1924 documenting the Amsterdam School, illustrated with striking photographs by Bernard Eilers, which made a significant impact on Japanese architectural circles. This exhibition celebrates the centenary of Horiguchi's visit, examining his enthusiasm for the Amsterdam School as an architectural and artistic movement, especially evident in its design for workers' housing, and tracing how this inspiration influenced his own subsequent architectural work. Notably, Horiguchi also captured unique interior photographs of Het Schip's post office during his visit, the only known ones from that era.

Information about specific activities and a related publication, 'Sutemi Horiguchi, Bunriha and the Amsterdam School,' is available. Visitors are encouraged to sign up for the newsletter for updates on exhibitions and programs.