2VidK “feet in the mud”
"It's better to fail in originality, than succeed in imitation."
Herman Melville
A little further up North in Neah Bay, the Makah People still
its source turns out as both a journey around the world and
reside. 4,000 Years ago this nearly forgotten Indian tribe created
a journey through the outskirts of the mind. My inspiration
spaces that could still serve as an example today. With a
disappears into thin air when Maslow’s primary needs are
minimum of means they created safety and shelter for peaceful
not fulfilled. I cannot work, create, and give without my loves
coexistence. What an amazing people!
ones around me. They are the starting point for unleashing my spiritual creativity.
In the first century BC, Vitruvius defined architecture as a symbiosis of technique, beauty, and function. However, there is
My sources of inspiration coincide with my fascinations. Most,
more to it. Without spirit, architecture is as dead as a doornail.
by the way, are located on the other side of the ocean. I am
Many architects add this sorely needed spirit to the profession.
enthralled by the Colorado Plateau that stretches beyond the
Through the work of Mies van der Rohe, Alvar Aalto, bOb van
borders of Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona.
Reeth, and Dom Hans van der Laan I am inspired to travel
I can spend days driving across an immense red landscape,
across the boundaries of the profession.
where I find myself being amazed and lost in wonder.
Above all, they inspire me to discover for myself how the Makah
Such energy!
people, the red beauty of the North American South-West, and the simplicity of Woz’s motherboard can end up in Drenthe
Not far from there, in Cupertino CA, Apple revealed the Apple II
– of all places.
in 1977. At the time it was the cleverest, smallest, best designed and most user-friendly personal computer the world had ever
This is my story. The story of an architect. However, without
seen. Steve Wozniak, Apple II’s genius father, surprised friend
clients no architecture. Behind every question in an assignment,
and foe with what would later become his trademark: half the
a deeper question lies hidden that partially encloses the
number of parts, a stunningly simple motherboard and intuitive
answer. The art of the trade is discovering that answer. This
user interface. ‘The Woz’ as Silicon Valley’s own Mies van der
requires a deep concern for the assignment and for the client.
Rohe. To this day Apple continues to inspire me with products,
Hence this book: an ode to an extraordinary collaboration.
solutions, marketing, and people like Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive. A wonderful symbiosis of Zen and business!
This is printed inspiration.
Aat Vos
this is a book
Inspiration is an inexhaustible energy. A quest in search of
life is a beach
life is a beach
Neah Bay. The village was buried under a
Aequo, the architecture agency led by Aat
American reservation, in the northwest-
so-called landslide about 500 years ago.
Vos, is situated in Assen, The Nether-
ernmost point of the United States. It be-
The foundations were 4000 years old and
lands. But the thoughts, vision, inspira-
longs to a tribe of about 1,000 members:
the complete settlement consisted of
tion, and hearts of Aat and his crew are
the Makah Nation.
very large constructions. Entire families
in Neah Bay quite regularly. The Makah’s
lived together in a single building, while
architecture and individuality seamlessly
Aat Vos paid a visit to Neah Bay and the
the space was divided internally by using
connect with Aequo’s vision and work
Makah Cultural Research Center in the
animal hides, fires, and fences.
methods. Aequo attaches value to tradi-
summer of 2007 and was moved by the
tion, cherishes respect for the past, and
enormous power and simplicity of the
It must have been a wonderful experi-
possesses - as do the Makah - individual-
Makah’s culture and building techniques.
ence to live in this way, in these sur-
ity and survival instinct. Therefore, it’s
Their architecture shows us that it’s pos-
roundings, and in these times. The
only logical that Aequo donates to the
sible to make something enormous out of
Makah are especially proud people,
Makah Cultural & Research Center.
almost nothing.
who believe in the individuality of their
This became evident a few years ago,
own culture.
when researchers found the remnants
Today, this culture lives on, however
of a complete village on the beach at
marginalized by the White Man.
www.makah.com
life is a beach
Neah Bay is an impressive Native
"The heart is the chief feature of a functioning mind." Frank Lloyd Wright
I am not an ordinary case.
I am the aatvos | K02.
I am a capacity-saving case, an
I was launched simultaneously with the
innovative, high-end design case.
opening of the library Lelystad, the first
I am a multipurpose case, constructed
European Department Store of Knowl-
entirely from extruded aluminium.
edge, in autumn 2009. They call me the first case system without system size.
supply my spectacular lighting. I am an
frontal presentation.
any width and height, preventing loss of
intelligent case, using RFID technology.
I am the first case to be designed based
capacity. Patented, ergonomic book-
My creators said goodbye to traditional
on the latest ARBO specifications.
ends allow my shelves to be placed both
bookshelves. They have replaced them
I am a rare case.
horizontally and at a declined angle. In-
by presentation compartments, various
tegrated, energy saving CCFL backlights
presentation tableaus, and footrests for
K02
That means I can be manufactured in
"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
Antoine de Saint-ExupĂŠry
"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going."
Berverly Sills
high-tech design case co aluminium profiles, can height/width, unique joinin mechanism for attachment pending,shelvingcanbeplac and at a approx. 8-degre integrated ergonomic boo low slats on shelving, wirel CCFL backlights integrate presentation compartments ARBO-proof, various functio sided and one-sided placem
K02 - the product
ontaining extruded be made in any ng/closing/hanging t of shelving (patent cedbothhorizontally ee declined angle), ok ends, high and less, energy-saving ed in the shelves, s/tableaus/footrests, on variants, doublement possible.
"Space and light and order. Those are the things that men need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep."
Le Corbusier
"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." Steve Jobs
"We can't build society. People are stronger than architects. People are creative and should be stimulated. We shouldn't limit or shackle them." Aat Vos
K02 - the effort 3,000 hours of teamwork, 897 cups of coffee, 14 litres coffee creamer, 3.42 kg sugar, 765 glasses of water, 368 cups of tea, 478 cola cans, 1,683 cigarettes, 115 cookies, 334 sketches thrown out, 11,738 km of car driving, 306 metre topboard, 1,425 metres of shelving, 3,346 screwed fittings, 1,430 book ends, 430 stanchions, 430 guide bars, 430 levelling foots, 384 basic joints, 354 presentation footrests, 1,402 LED strips, 275 leads, 1,425 high slats, 320 stanchion extensions, 320 guide bar extensions, 295 collection markings, 384 baseboards. and‌ ultimately 1,731 metres of case!
extra countless amounts of fun, litres of sweat, and immeasurable pride
K02 & its natural habitat
"All fine architectural values are human values, else not valuable."
Frank Lloyd Wright
[5]
[3]
[2]
[4]
[1]
His so-called hamburger principle has been applied by Aequo in various public library interiors, such as those of Lelystad and Delft (The Netherlands). This philosophy comprises the counterpart to the - what Vos describes as dated – traditional division of libraries, meaning consisting of four quadrants and segmented according to age and topic*.
The lower bun [1] of the hamburger represents the past, the meat [2], lettuce [3] and tomatoes [4] refer to the present, and the upper bun [5] symbolizes the future. The past stands for the entire collection, within which the consumers simply find their own way around. The present is more dynamic: an inspiring environment that provides the visitor with fresh ideas. The future represents tranquillity, which involves sitting, reading, or studying.
* From ‘Bibliotheek, Back to the Future’ (published by the Dutch Public Library Association)
buns and lettuce compose future library
Aat Vos loves a good sandwich.
K01
K01
aatvos | furniture
"An idea is salvation by imagination."
Frank Lloyd Wright
"If you can't solve a problem, it's because you're playing it by the rules."
Paul Arden
houses
many others:
spiritual father,
system in MDF.
unique in its kind.
we commence
someone who
the answer was
This case wasn’t
By the way, when I
with a new project
understands
easily found. That
embraced by
say ‘manufacture’,
or product design,
what being a true
answer eventually
everyone, but time
I mean the
we always ask
professional is all
led to the most
works miracles.
following...
ourselves the
about. However...
spectacular
Meanwhile, the
PROOB isn’t a
questions ‘Why
the reason I
product design in
K01 has gone from
manufacturer
are we doing
regard him as
our existence: the
outcast to class
as such; we
this? What is the
standing out from
aatvos | K02.
hero. To a case
compose the K02.
objective? What
the crowd lies in
that considers
Our products
can be improved?’
something else.
The library case,
various users’
are thought out
Foremost in this is
In the difference
in its most well-
needs, both ARBO-
to the smallest
that a solution can
between
known form, has
technically and
detail, the various
never be dictated
knowing and
been around for
functionally.
ingredients
by a catalogue
understanding.
nearly forty years.
or an equipment
Aat Vos under-
In all those years,
Speaking of the
carefully selected
fleet. After all,
stands his trade,
there have been
K01: this case
parties. PROOB
machines don’t
understands a
very few changes
formed the basic
then assembles
create products.
design question,
in its design.
prototype for our
these parts to
People do.
and understands
Colours were in
latest addition.
create a final
I therefore find
his client. I admire
accordance with
The K02 can be
design that meets
the collaboration
his ability to find
the spirit of the
manufactured
all of our client’s
with Aat Vos an
solutions. Our
times, but true
without system
wishes. After
ideal combination.
market’s pre-
innovation never
dimensions,
all, that which is
Neither of us likes
eminent projects
transpired. I found
which, together
made to measure
reinventing the
were completed
it remarkable that
with a plethora
requires precision.
wheel. What we do
under his direction
manufacturers
of progressive
like is constantly
for a good reason.
hardly took
technical
asking ourselves
He proves time
advantage of
specifications,
if we can improve
and again that his
developments
comprises the
how it spins.
input leads to a
in the market.
main difference
better end result.
Technically, as well
with the K01 and
Above all else,
When we were
as functionally,
all other library
Aat is an inspired,
deliberating on
‘the case’ lagged
cases. This rightly
able, and effective
the question who
behind. In 2007,
makes the K02 a
architect. In that
should become our
we created the
multifunctional
sense, he is like
new product line’s
K01, a library
case, and truly
prepared by
Marco Heyda
machines don’t create products
At PROOB, before
colofon aatvos | K02 client proob bibliotheekinrichting bv design aat vos / aequo team technical design/engineering mesin bv / kleinmechaniek bv sales & distribution proob bv, www.proob.nl
graphics concept & graphic design creabea.com photography hp van velthoven copy kirstin hanssen / suuz vos translation elina tozzi
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." George Carlin