J.H.Chr. Spruit (1910-1988) Joop (Johannes Hendricus Christiaan) Spruit took the course in higher architecture instruction and probably worked for the F.A. Eschauzier firm. There he met Christiaan Nielsen. Nielsen and Spruit set up an architectural firm together in 1945 in the form of a partnership, based in Bussum, where Nielsen was also living at the time. Quite large commissions in the Northeast Polder soon followed. Possibly these contacts dated from Nielsen's time at the Eschauzier firm, where he collaborated on a commission for the Wieringermeerpolder. The firm designed the prefab farm series 2 for the Northeast Polder, several residential blocks in Emmeloord and several churches (Ens, Emmeloord). Church construction made up a large part of the design work (Werkendam, Almkerk, Huizen, Heemstede, Bussum), with a rapid change in style. The early churches possess a standard three-aisled form with a gabled roof and an annexe extension. In later commissions, the annexes are often placed under the church hall and the roof takes on increasingly plastic forms. The Verlosserskerk church in Bussum in particular stands out because of its oval ground plane and curved roof plane. The design attracts attention and earns the firm many new commissions for churches and parsonages, not only for the Reformed, but also for the Reformed congregations. In addition, the firm has had many commissions for housing complexes (Castricum, Giessen, Naarden, Den Helder and Amsterdam) in the context of reconstruction, where unfortunately it is usually impossible to indicate who the designer was. This is also related to the division of labor that developed within the firm, with Nielsen handling the external contacts and Spruit focusing entirely on design. It was customary, however, to attribute a commission to the person who won it. Because of the division of labor, this was usually Nielsen, while Spruit preferred to stay in the office, which by now had moved to the attic of Keizersgracht 450 in Amsterdam. Nevertheless, Spruit had some clients of his own, such as Mr. Sieverding of Grundig and the paper merchant and publisher Proost and Brandt. He was also the specialist in commissions for private homes. An important employee was Nico Dik, who had joined the firm in 1948. Around 1954, van de Kuilen joined the partnership, which was then working on the designs for two churches in Nagele. Characteristic of his design style are interlocking cubist volumes, provided with flat roofs with substantial eaves. He drew up a large number of large plans for expansion districts together with regular project developers. Around 1961, a plan gone wrong caused a rift in the partnership (for further information, see W. van de Kuilen). Nielsen and Spruit then continued as separate firms, while simply working in the same building and using the same draftsmen. The draftsmen now had to use separate stamps for the drawings. According to employees at the time, nothing had changed about the atmosphere. The contact remained, as before, rather formal. Because of the enlargement of the area of the rented office on Keizersgracht, Nielsen and Spruit were given their own room. So did Mr. Dik when he was appointed chef de bureau and head of preparation and execution in 1963. Nielsen made the winning design for the main building of the Vrije Universiteit in 1962. Many additional personnel were hired for the execution, including the designers Peter Snel and Rob Poel. They took care of the further elaboration of the Main Building, and were also the main designers of such follow-up assignments as the Energy Center, Provisorium and Transitorium for the VU and the Outpatient Clinic for the VU Hospital. Nielsen had virtually no time left after 1962 as he was appointed city architect of Amsterdam. However, he did continue to take care of the firm's external contacts, such as consultations with the head of the VU's building office, Mr. Doets, with whom he got along well. Due to the persistent pressure, Nielsen decided to give up the position of city architect in 1967, which position was subsequently abolished. The changed situation within the firm led to the establishment of Architektengroep 69 B.V. in 1969, with a management consisting of Nielsen, Spruit, Snel, Poel and N. Dik as technical director. In the 1970s, this firm grew to 40 employees, a situation that continued well into the 1980s. Around 1971, the building Keizersgracht 450 could be purchased, allowing the office to expand. In the early 1970s, Spruit suffered from poor health. In 1976, Nielsen and Spruit retired, while the firm would still perform many works for the VU and AZVU. Mr. Spruit died in 1988. For further information, see under P.A. Snel, R. Poel and O. Groenhout. Sanne Alberts 2005 Education: Higher Architecture Education/.