G. Friedhoff (1892-1970) Gijsbert Friedhoff was born in Rotterdam in 1892. In 1919 he graduates from the Technical High School in Delft. He joins the traditionalism of the Delft School. Friedhoff remains consistent in this choice throughout his career. As an architect he manages to realize several highlights within this movement. One of his first works is the town hall (1921-1923) of Sliedrecht, which he realizes in collaboration with J.H. Plantenga and fits into the urban plan of K.P.C. de Bazel. In 1937 he signs for a number of projects: the competition design for a new town hall in Amsterdam with the motto "Burcht," the First Church of Christ Scientist in Amsterdam and the auditorium for the New General Cemetery in Haarlem. Best known, however, is his town hall (1929-1933) in Enschede, for which he also designed most of the interior himself. The town hall in Stockholm by architect Ragnar Östberg was an important source of inspiration for his design. With its slightly convex tower with pointed crown, the copper roofing and closed facades, the town hall in Enschede was greatly admired by traditionalists in the Netherlands. Friedhoff was appointed to the position of Chief Government Architect in 1946, which position he held until 1957. It means that he can put an important stamp on the appearance of government buildings, but this proves to be a difficult task in the austere postwar period. He therefore opts for solid and durable government housing, designed with dignity, without experiments at the community's expense, with art in the service of architecture. Friedhoff is the last government architect to design himself. By his hand are the Ministry of Education, Arts and Sciences (1950-1953, later demolished) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1956-1963), both in The Hague. Friedhoff adhered to traditionalism in architecture during this period, when society was rapidly modernizing. His Central Tax Office (1956-1957) in Amsterdam has a strict, classicist design. With its high entrance hall, italianizing roof structure and large, archaic coats of arms, Friedhoff sets up a powerful manifesto of state authority. It proves outdated ten years later: his former right-hand man M. Bolten erects a modern building for expansion, a sleek box of glass and white natural stone. Friedhoff dies in 1970. Two years later, his wife, Mrs. W.A. Friedhoff-Ligtermoer, donates part of his archive. Several volumes follow. By now the archive consists of personalia, training materials and drawings and photographs relating to his projects and competition designs. Education: Delft University of Technology/1911-1919 Additional activities: architect/Bureau Rijksbouwmeester of the Second District of the Landsgebouwendienst/1919-1922;lecturer in architecture/M.T.S. Rotterdam/1922-1929;Tijdschrift Bouwen/founder and editor-in-chief/1924-1926;head of urban expansion department/Municipality of Haarlem/1926-1929;private architect//1929-1938;city architect/Municipality of Haarlem/1938-1946;Rijksbouwmeester/Rijksgebouwendienst/1946-1957