Architect, Netherlands Hendrik Petrus Berlage was one of the most significant European architects before World War I. Often considered the father of modern architecture in the Netherlands, Berlage greatly influenced a generation of architects that included J.J.P.Oud, Gerrit Rietveld, and Mies van der Rohe. His work is known for its transition from 19th-century historicism to new styles and theories of modern architecture. While his early designs were revivalist Dutch Renaissance, in the 1890s Berlage rejected historicism to experiment instead with stylistically innovative forms. Often considered a rationalist, Berlage was similarly noted for his restrained use of ornament and his insistence that the exterior of a building express its interior, functional design. Berlage was a pioneer in the development of 20th-century architecture, and many of his buildings are Dutch cultural landmarks. Berlage’s career falls into three periods: 1878 to 1903, his early work through the completion of th...