Gouda Architects lets readers look at Gouda with different eyes. The book is about the architects who shaped the city between 1860 and 1960. And about houses, public buildings and facilities in a period in which the city developed rapidly socially, politically, urbanistically and in architectural styles. The second half of the nineteenth century brought great, new dynamics. It is also the period when the profession of architect developed into a full, recognized profession with its own education. With their work, the architects of Gouda bequeathed their city numerous remarkable, often image-defining buildings. The book shows the genesis and characteristics of these nineteenth- and twentieth-century buildings. And how decisive new insights about hygiene, public health, public housing and welfare were for the construction of new homes and neighborhoods. A fine example is the Sint-Jozefbuurt, which was designed as a garden village. The architects who shaped Gouda were independently working families of architects such as Dessing, Nederhorst and Stuurman. But also architects in municipal service, such as Loevinus Koole and Henk de Meer. Their work produced monumental buildings that still define the streetscape, such as the Gouwekerk, the Westerkerk, the Kadeschool and numerous special, 'ordinary' residential and retail buildings. But also, for example, cheese warehouses, bridges, a bicycle track and a hospital came from their drawing boards. Buildings were built in all styles and according to everyone's taste and needs. Bianca van den Berg and Marije Strating are both architectural historians and live in Gouda. Bianca van den Berg is heritage and living environment coordinator at the Ministry of OC&W. Marije Strating is heritage advisor at the municipality of Rijswijk.