Eyck, Aldo van (1918-1999)

Dutch architect. He had a strong commitment to social architecture. His works include an orphans' home, the Children's Home (1957-60), and Hubortus House - a refuge for single parents and their children (1978-81; both in Amsterdam).

Educated in the UK, Holland, and Switzerland, van Eyck remained close to the heritage of the Western culture and felt no affinity with postmodernism. He developed a vision of ‘new reality’, based on scientific foundations and the avant-garde art. He joined the International Association of Modern Architecture (CIAM) in 1947 and between 1948 and 1951 he was involved in the Cobra Movement; in 1956 he joined the Team 10 group, and in 1959 CIAM collapsed under its influence. From 1983 he worked in association with his wife Hannie.

Van Eyck's work was widely recognized. He received the Royal Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects (1990), the Fritz Schumacher Prize (1992), and the Wolf Prize (1998); he was made officer in the Order of Oranje Nassau and commander in the Order of the Dutch Lion (1998).