Hofmans, Annebel
(2019)
Modernizing History.
Master thesis, Master Religion Conflict and Globalisation.
Abstract
Numbers have shown that more and more monuments in the Netherlands are falling into disuse and start to lose their impact on society, with almost fifty churches having to close their doors every year. However, an increasing use of contemporary architecture might be a solution to this problem. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent contemporary architecture is used for renovating national monuments in the Netherlands and whether these contemporary renovations might indicate which role national monuments have in a highly modernizing Dutch society. An analysis of twelve case studies, divided into three different categories; 1) museums 2) government buildings and 3) churches, has shown that the extent to which contemporary architecture is used on buildings indeed indicates which role the monument has for society as it seemed that the more extensively contemporary architecture is used on monuments, the less strongly their mnemonic function for society is. Museums are at the top of this spectrum and subject to the most unconventional designs creating international attractions and churches are the least renovated with modest designs, indicating that people are not ready to transform these iconic landmarks. However, as these contemporary renovations might indeed diminish their intentional and historic mnemonic function and further research could examine whether they create new and ‘modern monuments’. In the case of churches, further research should be undertaken to investigate whether the use of contemporary architecture on churches might be an indication of the presupposed and still existing role of religion in society.
| Type: |
Thesis
(Master)
|
| Supervisors (RUG): |
| Supervisor | E-mail | Tutor organization | Tutor email |
|---|
| Weir, T.H. | T.H.Weir@rug.nl | | |
|
| Supervisors from outside the RUG: |
| Tutor outside | E-mail | Tutor outside organization | Tutor outside email |
|---|
| dr. R.J. Stöver, . | . | | |
|
| Degree programme: |
Master Religion Conflict and Globalisation |
| Academic year: |
2017- 2018 |
| Date of delivery: |
18 Jan 2019 |
| Last modified: |
25 Jan 2019 08:40 |
| URI: |
https://rcs.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/457 |
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