[press release]
Stamps featuring iconic buildings in the New Construction style
The Hague, 17 September 2018 – PostNL’s newest set of architecture stamps celebrates the ‘New Construction’ construction style, also known as functionalism. This architectural style was characterised by its functionality, lack of unnecessary decoration and use of modern techniques, as well as the incorporation of modern building materials such as concrete, steel and glass.
Pure proportions, symmetry and repetition
New Construction was most popular between 1916 and 1935. Architects sought to achieve beauty through pure proportions, symmetry and repetition. New Construction is recognisable by its flat roofs, white plastered façades, light, air and space.
Five distinctive buildings
The ten stamps on the New Construction Architecture stamp sheetlet feature black and white pictures of five buildings that are characteristic of this style: the Coöperatie De Volharding office building in The Hague (1928), the Zonnestraal (“Sunbeam”) sanatorium in Hilversum (1928), the Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam (1931), the houses on Erasmuslaan in Utrecht designed by Gerrit Rietveld (1931) and the Schunck Glaspaleis (“Glass Palace”) department store in Heerlen (1933).
White plasterwork
The stamps feature both a general view and a detail from the architectural drawing or floor plan of each building. Rotterdam-based graphic designer Ariënne Boelens decided to use black and white images to highlight the key role of white plaster in the New Construction style. “I also paid homage to the twenties in the typography by using a font that was very popular at that time,” Boelens explains. “A bit bombastic, with many combinations of bold, fine and double lines.”
Architecture series
The New Construction Architecture stamp sheet is the second sheet in the architecture series issued by PostNL. The first stamps, issued in 2017, were dedicated to the period of reconstruction after World War II. “We want to take this opportunity to showcase the fantastic buildings that were constructed in the last century,” says Stephan van den Eijnden, marketing director for Mail at PostNL. “There’s a good reason why Dutch architects have such a high profile in other countries. Their most important works from the twentieth century can still be admired today across the country – and on our stamps.”
Availability
The New Construction Architecture sheetlet consists of 10 stamps with five designs, all marked with Nederland 1, the denomination for mail weighing up to 20g destined for delivery to an address in the Netherlands. The stamps are available as of 17 September 2018 from the post office counter in Bruna stores and online at postnl.nl/bijzondere-postzegels. The stamps can also be ordered by phone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number +31 (0)88 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite.
