Michiel Brinkman

Michiel Brinkman (1873–1925) was a Dutch architect and the father of Johannes Brinkman the exponent of Nieuwe Bouwen, modern architecture in the Netherlands. Michiel Brinkman is notable for his Justus van Effen housing block complex in Spangen, which is a Rijksmonument, built in 1922. it incorporates 3m wide connecting terraces on the third floor, known in Dutch as Bovenstraten (sing. Bovenstraat), and in English as 'Streets in the sky'.

Career Michiel Brinkman was born in Rotterdam on 16 December 1873, the son of Hermanus Antonie Brinkman and Anna Maria Brinkman (née Juijn). He married Andrea Johanna Salomina Wulff. He studied at the 'Academie van Beeldende Kunsten en Technische Wetenschappen', nowadays called Willem de Kooning Academy, under Henri Evers. He practised in the office of Barend Hooijkaas jr., until 1910 when he opened his own firm. Brinkman en Hooijkaas during 1908-1909, built the 'Koninklijke Roei- en Zeilvereeniging De Maas' in Veerhaven. This is celebrated as a Rijksmonument.

The architecture practice Brinkman & Van der Vlugt (1925-1936) designed the Van Nelle factory in Rotterdam, the Feyenoord football stadium and the standard Dutch telephone box. Later he worked with his son, J.A. Brinkman, in a partnership with L.C. van der Vlugt, J.H. van den Broek and Jaap Bakema.

Justus van Effencomplex

"the apotheosis of Dutch functionalism ":Arjan Hebly The original exterior details were restored, while the interiors were improved by installing modern heating systems that use rooftop solar panels to capture heat for hotwater and glazing the interior doors to improve the quality of the light.

The bovenstraat walkway concept, 'Streets in the sky', influential on Dutch architecture was developed further by Le Corbusier for his Unite d'Habitation in Marseilles, and later by Peter and Alison Smithson for Golden Lane Estate and Robin Hood Gardens, in London.

Notable buildings Clubhouse Koninklijke Roei- en Zeilvereniging De Maas (1909) Elevatorhuis (1915) Steam-Driven Flour Mill De Maas (A.M. van Dusseldorp & co) (1913) Housing Justus van Effen Block (1922) Private House Dennenrode (1923)