Sandy van Ginkel
Encyclopedia
Harmen Peter Daniel van Ginkel, CM
(February 10, 1920 – July 5, 2009) was a Dutch
and Canadian
architect and urban planner. He was a leading force in the planning efforts surrounding Expo 67
.
Van Ginkel studied architecture at the Elckerlyc Academy of Architecture and Applied Art in Lage Vuursche
and sociology at Utrecht University
. During the Second World War he was active in the Dutch resistance. After his studies he worked in planning and architectural offices in the Netherlands, Sweden
and Ireland
and eventually had his own office in Amsterdam. He had several collaborative projects with Aldo van Eyck
. As a member of the Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne
he drafted the Doorn Manifesto of the Team 10 architects.
He married a Canadian architect, Blanche Lemco, who he had met at the CIAM congress in Aix-en-Provence
in 1953 http://www.team10online.org/team10/members/ginkel.htm, and at the age of 37 moved with her to Montréal
, where he established the design and management firm Ginkel Associates.
He subsequently played a major role in saving Old Montreal
from destruction in the early 1960s. As assistant director of the city of Montreal's newly formed planning department, he persuaded authorities to abandon plans for an expressway that would have cut through the old city.
In 2007, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
in recognition for having "brought a greater appreciation of the impact of infrastructure on the character of urban development".
He died in his sleep on July 5, 2009 in a Toronto nursing home.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(February 10, 1920 – July 5, 2009) was a Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
and Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
architect and urban planner. He was a leading force in the planning efforts surrounding Expo 67
Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
.
Van Ginkel studied architecture at the Elckerlyc Academy of Architecture and Applied Art in Lage Vuursche
Lage Vuursche
Lage Vuursche is a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the municipality of Baarn, and lies about 5 km west of Soest, in the middle of the forest. Drakestein, the former residence of Queen Beatrix, is situated just east of the village.In 2001, the village of Lage-Vuursche...
and sociology at Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
. During the Second World War he was active in the Dutch resistance. After his studies he worked in planning and architectural offices in the Netherlands, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and eventually had his own office in Amsterdam. He had several collaborative projects with Aldo van Eyck
Aldo van Eyck
Aldo van Eyck or van Eijk was an architect from the Netherlands.-Family:...
. As a member of the Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne
Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne
The Congrès internationaux d'architecture moderne – CIAM was an organization founded in 1928 and disbanded in 1959, responsible for a series of events and congresses arranged around the world by the most prominent architects of the time, with the objective of spreading the principles of the Modern...
he drafted the Doorn Manifesto of the Team 10 architects.
He married a Canadian architect, Blanche Lemco, who he had met at the CIAM congress in Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
in 1953 http://www.team10online.org/team10/members/ginkel.htm, and at the age of 37 moved with her to Montréal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, where he established the design and management firm Ginkel Associates.
He subsequently played a major role in saving Old Montreal
Old Montreal
Old Montreal is the oldest area in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, dating back to New France. Located in the borough of Ville-Marie, the area is bordered on the west by McGill St., on the north by Ruelle des Fortifications, on the east by Berri St. and on the south by the Saint Lawrence River...
from destruction in the early 1960s. As assistant director of the city of Montreal's newly formed planning department, he persuaded authorities to abandon plans for an expressway that would have cut through the old city.
In 2007, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in recognition for having "brought a greater appreciation of the impact of infrastructure on the character of urban development".
He died in his sleep on July 5, 2009 in a Toronto nursing home.
External links
- Sandy van Ginkel at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...