LiMa – House Europe Community – Herman Hertzberger
„SAVE SOZA . STOP DEMOLITION . RENOVATION FIRST
Das Problem
„The former Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment building complex in The Hague, SoZa, was designed by Herman Hertzberger in 1979, and was in use as a government building from 1990 to 2016. SoZa is internationally recognised as an icon of Structuralist architecture, with its visionary design already accounting for future uses. In a time when very few spoke of sustainability and circularity, this is a pioneering example of sustainability ahead of its time!“
„Every minute, a building is demolished in Europe. This summer, the former Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SoZa) is next. Two years ago, a community of about 560 professionals, academics, students, and locals submitted a petition to the House of Representatives against SoZa’s demolition — without result. With this new petition, in a changed political landscape after general elections and a new Coalition Agreement of the Government, we hope to make a difference and show these signers are not alone, but widely supported in The Hague, the Netherlands, across Europe and around the world.“