Brutalism, University, and Urban Space in Nijmegen after 1945
Step into a fascinating world of bold ideals and a city rebuilding itself.
Taking university buildings such as the Central Library and the Erasmus Tower as a point of departure, this think tank examines the rise and meaning of Brutalist architecture within the postwar reconstruction of Nijmegen (think, for example, of De Lindenberg Theatre, the Dukenburg Quarter, and the Estel Building), and, more specifically, the development of Radboud University. Brutalism was more than simply an architectural style, as it reflected broader social, political, and cultural ambitions of the immediate decades following 1945 – expressed in raw concrete and functional design. Brutalist buildings, then, have meaning for the people who live in and around them.
In recent years, increasing attention has been given – among others by the Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) of the Netherlands – to so-called ‘post-65 heritage’. Infrastructures, neighborhoods, building complexes, and objects from the period 1965-1990 receive relatively little protection against demolition or alteration. To raise awareness of this heritage, the Post-65 Working Group focuses on architecture and urban planning between 1965 and 1990.
Client
The client of this think tank is the Nijmegen branch of the Post-65 Working Group.
Assignment
You will study key examples of Brutalist architecture both on the university campus and across the city. Through interviews, discussions, site visits, literature, and historical sources such as autobiographies and poems, you will chart how Brutalism helped define Nijmegen’s postwar identity – and how these structures continue to shape the city we see today. You will also reflect on possible ways to draw more public attention to Brutalist architecture on the university campus within the context of academic heritage. Finally, you will focus on what is needed to make Brutalist university buildings future-proof. How can they be transformed with sustainability in mind, for instance, without compromising what makes them architecturally so interesting in the first place?
Kick-off weekend
The kick-off weekend of this think tank will take place on Friday 13 February and Saturday 14 February 2026 at the Dominican Monastery in Huissen. Attendance at this weekend is a compulsory part of the program.
Weekly meetings
After the kick-off, weekly meetings will be held on Monday evenings from 18:00 to 20:00. The supervisors will be present every other week.
Study trip
As part of the think tank, there will also be a four-day study trip. The dates and destination will be determined by the group in consultation with the supervisors.