Frits Peutz facts for kids

F.P.J. Peutz (born April 7, 1896 – died October 24, 1974) was a famous Dutch architect. He designed many important buildings, especially in the city of Heerlen. He helped transform Heerlen into a modern city.

Life of an Architect

Peutz was born into a Catholic family in Uithuizen. This town is in Groningen, a province in the northern Netherlands. When he was 14, he went to a boarding school. This school was called Rolduc, located in the Catholic province of Limburg.

After high school, he studied civil engineering in Delft. In 1916, he changed his studies to architecture. In 1920, Peutz moved to Heerlen in Limburg. He settled there as an architect. Heerlen was growing fast because of its coal mining industry. This meant he had many jobs to do. Peutz played a big role in making Heerlen a modern city. He earned his architecture degree in 1925. Peutz and his wife, Isabelle Tissen, had thirteen children. One of his sons also became an architect.

Architectural Styles

Peutz used many different historical styles in his designs. He also really liked the "modern movement." This included styles like Bauhaus from Germany. He gave these modern ideas his own special touch. His non-religious buildings looked very modern. But his churches were much more traditional.

During his life, Peutz was quite well-known around the world. However, most of his work was in Heerlen. This city later lost its status as a big industrial center. Because of this, Peutz was somewhat forgotten. But in recent years, people are rediscovering his work. For example, his building called the Glaspaleis was named one of the world's 1000 most important buildings of the 20th century. This shows how important his designs are.

Peutz also worked on the old Pancratiuskerk church. He placed this old Romanesque church next to a very modern department store. This mix of old and new was typical of his style. His designs for the retreat house and the Glaspaleis show a new phase in his building style. This style grew even more when he designed the Town hall of Heerlen.

Key Buildings by Peutz

• Villa for the notary Wijnands, Heerlen, 1919
• Broederschool (primary school), Heerlen, 1921
• Villa Casa Blanca, Houthem, 1929
• ULO-school (school building), Heerlen, 1931
• Villa Op de Linde, Heerlen, 1931
• Monseigneur Schrijnen Retreat House, Heerlen, 1932
• Glaspaleis (formerly: Schunck Fashionhouse), Heerlen, 1933
• Villa 't Sonnehuys, Maastricht, 1933
• Royal Theater (Royal cinema), Heerlen, 1937
• Town hall of Heerlen, 1936–1942
• Town hall of Tegelen, 1938
• Kneepkens store, Heerlen, 1939
• Annakerk (church of St. Anne), Heerlen, 1951
• Vroom & Dreesmann store, Heerlen, 1958
• Stadsschouwburg (Municipal Theatre), Heerlen, 1959
• Jan Van Eyck Academie, Maastricht, 1959

Gallery

• Secular buildings in Heerlen
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• Churches in Limburg
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• Houses in Limburg
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Images for kids

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  The famous Glaspaleis in Heerlen

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  The Town hall of Heerlen

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  Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Maastricht