This article, written for the Blauwe Kamer magazine, focusses on the results of the researchlabs that were initiated by the Rijksbouwmeester to help young architects in these times of crisis. Unfortunately the results are mixed.
And an English translation is not available
This article focusses on the meaning of the Spuiplein square in The Hague. It is also a report on the debate about the proposed construction of a new theatre coplex combining the Residentie Orkest (philharmonic orchestra), Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) and the conservatorium (music school) and the effect the new building might have on the square.
It is not yet available in english.
Publieke ruimte? - Hal centraal station Den Haag - foto (tim de boer en julliette reiniers)
This article is not available in English.. Sorry!
image from wikimedia commons
This article is only available as short summary in english.
The municipality of Amsterdam is trying to gentrify the red light district “De Wallen”. They argue the current situation is to unsafe and attracts too much criminal activities. They proposed to cut prostitution related activities by 50 %. To gentrify the area they proposed some key projects that are developed by housing corporations. What is interesting is the fact that in most cases gentrification elevates the value of real estate involved. But what Tsaiher Cheng (from Boundary Unlimited) showed in her research is that in this case the value actually falls. The value will (probably) only rise after a very long time. This means the restructuring is a very capital-intensive enterprise.
Boundary Unlimited is researching other methods of gentrification in “De Wallen”. They are inspired by the typologies for housing variuos creative industries that surfaced in Asian cities. They do not cut prostitution, they work with the left over spaces above the windows or behind the streets. This smart strategy means the value of the real estate will not fall sharply during the transformation. They make a much more gradual transformation possible.
The Dutch article appeared in the ‘Blauwe Kamer’ -2010-nr. 1 – . Its the dutch ‘parent’ magazine of ‘scape.
I submitted a project in the Prix de Rome competition a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t win or made it onto the longlist. I guess kicking against the competitionbrief didn’t work this time. Anyway enjoy the presentation boards.
Complete presentation:
Board 1:
And board 2:
Anyway, i will upload a complete pdf of the presentation, so the small texts can also be read.
Not available in English.
Sorry, this post is only available in Dutch.
Recently I bought a large amount of an old Dutch architecture magazine: The Archis. I now have all the issues from 1986- 2000. I heard much about the supposed greatness of the magazine but that turned out to be true. The old Archis is better than the new (Volume). A lot of the articles from the issues of 1986 are still relevant today. One example: In one issue there is a long article on the Dutch coasttown Scheveningen and the plans for renewal there. Even in 2009 the issues they raise are still relevant.
It’s a shame this content is still not available digitally in such a nice way as The New Yorker already has done. There is not even a searchable database on the subjects the magazine covered in the past. Luckily the issues can still be bought secondhand. And the expercience of buying it was also very good. A nice recepetion with coffee and a good conversation about Architecture. Thanks Marian & Hans!
In 2008 the Zuid Hollandse Vormgevingsprijs (a design competition) was about the Grevelingen. This sweetwaterlake in the southwest of The Netherlands is getting less popular with tourists. The design brief asked for new ways of stimulating tourism. I focussed on the middle area of the lake. This very quiet part of the Grevelingen could be developed in extensive recreation area, where the experience is focussed on the water. Floating bungalows, for the most part underwater, have a minimal impact on the openess of the landscape and are very well suited to act as a base for diving activities. The Grevelingen has some of the best diving spots in Europe.
After I handed in this design I got a completely different and much better idea about promoting the Grevelingen. But i will post on that later.
Unfortunatly this article on the new faculty of architecture building in Delft is not available in English, Sorry.
