12 Facts About Pierre Cuypers

Petrus Josephus Hubertus "Pierre" Cuypers was a Dutch architect.

Pierre Cuypers's name is most frequently associated with the Amsterdam Central Station and the Rijksmuseum, both in Amsterdam.

Pierre Cuypers was taught by Frans-Andries Durlet, Frans Stoop and Ferdinand Berckmans, all pioneers of the neo-Gothic architecture in Belgium.

Pierre Cuypers was a good student; in 1849, he gained the Prix d'Excellence of the academy.

Pierre Cuypers built many churches throughout the Netherlands, in which the French influence played a prominent role.

From 1870 onwards Pierre Cuypers' style became more influenced by the native Gothic styles of the Netherlands as well as Gothic styles from other countries like Norway and Italy.

Pierre Cuypers experimented with centralizing ground-plans and other non-conventional layouts.

Pierre Cuypers's conceptions concerning restorations has been frequently criticized; restoration often implied that the building was awfully damaged, but Cuypers tried to satisfy an idealized image of the style or the idea how the original builders had intended a building to be rather than to preserve the architectural evolution of the building.

An early example of this is the extensive restoration of the Munster Church in Roermond, where Pierre Cuypers replaced original towers with new ones.

Pierre Cuypers was the uncle of Eduard Cuypers who trained in his practice as a young man.

Pierre Cuypers was a practising Roman Catholic and a member of the Lay Dominicans.

Pierre Cuypers died in his home town of Roermond, aged 93.