Sweder Spanjer Forever travelling A crossing to Terschelling
Eerste Constantijn Huyghensstraat 26D 1054 BR Amsterdam 06-21511722 sjspanjer@gmail.com Architect @ Skets
Amsterdam Academy of Architecture Graduation Projects 2015-2016
Architecture
Sweder Spanjer Forever travelling A crossing to Terschelling
I love Terschelling. Not only because my family has been born and bred there for generations, but especially due to the romance of the boat trip, the different landscapes on a small piece of the earth and the abundant forces of nature present. Many more people love Terschelling apart from me, as evidenced by 400,000 people crossing over each year. These people come back each year, if not more often, to the island. The love for the island is often passed on to successive generations, as families spend their holidays here together. And then a person is suddenly confronted with death and also, therefore, his or her next of kin. You ask yourself how you would like to spend the last moments of your life. Do you do that in a hospice, as is customary nowadays? Although it may be exaggerating somewhat, a large number of people stay in a simulated home environment, where they all wait for death, in combination with the necessary medical care. A place where a rift arises between the living environment and the place where one will die; where the family come to visit now and again. I believe that things should be done differently, and can be done differently! Wouldn’t it be nice to make the crossing to Terschelling, the place you love so much, one final time with the family, who are often spread out across the country. And to spend the remaining time there together, almost like previous holidays. Surrounded by mother nature, with her forces, rhythms and influences. The wind, which ensures that the landscape is continually in motion. The sea with its tides, the turbulent weather which you see coming from afar. The crystal-clear nights with the starry sky. A place where you can find solace, because you realise that we are all part of nature, a greater whole. That consists of influences which we have no control over and rhythms that are constantly recurring, just like the cycle of life and death. And we will all ultimately be swept along in these natural trends, in which we abandon ourselves to nature and can surrender to dying. A place where there are memories of previous holidays on the island, as a result of which you reflect on beautiful, special events and moments. And then you spend your final moments on one of the most beautiful locations of the island, right on top of a dune. Surrounded by people that you love, at a place you love. A place where the future bereaved can support each other, as an important part of the care; Where the collective bond between the families is shaped by providing the primary needs, food and warmth, together and maintaining this throughout the year. As a result of this, the interaction between the various families and people is stimulated and the interaction can lead to a bond or a friendship, like a form of enrichment. Seven families can stay here, so that following the death of one or two people, the other families are not immediately in the minority and no undesirable imbalance is created between the current and new families. As a result, there is also a balance between life and death. I believe that seven accommodations for seven families with an average stay of three weeks will result in a balance between them, so that there is no coming and going of families. A place where I have achieved the personal ambition of uniting death and commemoration in one place. The place where someone dies is of great significance to me and, in addition, there is no interruption in living environment at a time when you are particularly vulnerable as surviving relative. Given that the death may be confronting for the other families, I have consciously dealt with this phase and the accompanying emotions in a subtle manner. The phasing through time and the introverted character of parts of the accommodation and the courtyard tie in with this. Then returning to the extroverted landscape after a few days mourning, where you meet your friends and family before saying farewell. Graduation date 26 08 2016
Commission members Jan-Richard Kikkert Bruno Doedens Gunnar Daan
Additional members for the examination Ira Koers Bart Bulter
Sweder Spanjer
Architecture
After the boat has moored, you continue your way across Terschelling, go to the east and turn left before the village of Formerum, ride thorough the forest of Formerum.
Once you come out of the forest, the building reveals itself in the distance.
Up the dune, the road rises steeply, the winding road constantly offers new views of the building.
Sweder Spanjer
Total As a whole, this building is made up of various zones. These zones form part of a larger whole, which symbolise the size of the world of the dying. This world grows smaller and smaller.
Collective The outermost zone is permeable to the landscape. Spaces are located here, which are closely connected to the landscape, the wind and which each have a specific orientation. Orientated towards the sun, the view and linked to an activity.
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Interior spaces associated with collective need (activity)
Orientation landscape/sun/ view
Collective needs (activity)
Entrances landscape
Surface areas collective spaces
Interconnecting landscape The interconnecting landscape is situated within this zone. This interconnecting landscape is easily accessible to everyone, also if you are in a wheelchair. The difference in height are in keeping with the landscape and constantly offer new perspectives. The interconnecting landscape provides access to both the collective spaces and the private accommodations for the families.
Accommodations The private domains of the families are located within. The vertical relationships are the primary focus here. The spaces are lit from above when the sun shines and provide an opportunity to see the stars at night. As a result, it ties in with the day and night rhythm in a pure manner. The theme of rain also plays a role in the zone.
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Ongoing care programme
7 unique views
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Surface areas of accommodations (2 floors)
Courtyard garden The introverted courtyard garden lies hidden at the centre of the building. There is talk of this garden and perhaps people smell it, but it is only revealed once someone dies. After the death, this garden provides a feeling of relief and offers solace.
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Wave before daylight
Section from south to north, from dune to beach and North Sea
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7 accommodations heptagon
Amorphous like a dip in the dunes
Architecture
After eating you take another walk through the interconnecting landscape, the interconnecting landscape broadens out and there is a place in order to be outside, a fire is already being started, but bad weather is coming in from the sea
Impressions left by wind in the dune sand
Shells, water, dune sand and cement together make up the concrete
Section in which the application of the material can be seen
Processing of the Terschellinger wood, in keeping with the theme of the assignment.
The children from the various families have already become friends. They play, of course, in the dunes, while the mothers keep an eye on them from inside
Sweder Spanjer
There are various skylights in the accommodation. The sun shining during the day creates a fascinating play of light. Once the sun sets, a clear starry sky follows as time passes. You can spend your final moments together with your family in total peace
Colourful grasses and flowers together with burnt wood. It offers solace that nature can be so beautiful, while you have just experienced that nature can also be very harsh
After the service, the deceased can be taken away to the final resting place and that person will be forever travelling
Amsterdam Academy of Architecture Architect, Master of Science Urbanist, Master of Science Landscape Architect, Master of Science
With the inclusion of the course in Urbanism in 1957 and Landscape Architecture in 1972, the Academy is the only architecture school in the Netherlands to bring together the three spatial design disciplines under one roof. Some 350 guest tutors are involved in teaching every year. Each of them is a practising designer or a specific expert in his or her particular subject. The three heads of department also have design practices of their own in addition to their work for the Academy. This structure yields an enormous dynamism and energy and ensures that the courses remain closely linked to the current state of the discipline. The courses consist of projects, exercises and lectures. First-year and second-year students also engage in morphological studies. Students work on their own or in small groups. The design
projects form the backbone of the syllabus. On the basis of a specific design assignment, students develop knowledge, insight and skills. The exercises are focused on training in those skills that are essential for recognising and solving design problems, such as analytical techniques, knowledge of the repertoire, the use of materials, text analysis, and writing. Many of the exercises are linked to the design projects. The morphological studies concentrate on the making of spatial objects, with the emphasis on creative process and implementation. Students experiment with materials and media forms and gain experience in converting an idea into a creation. During the periods between the terms there are workshops, study trips in the Netherlands and abroad, and other activities. This is also the preferred moment for international exchange projects. The Academy regularly invites foreign students for the workshops and recruits wellknown designers from the Netherlands and further afield as tutors. Graduates from the Academy of Architecture are entitled to the following titles: Architect, Master of Science; Urbanist, Master of Science and Landscape Architect, Master of Science.
Architecture
Architects, urbanists and landscape architects learn the profession at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture through an intensive combination of work and study. They work in small, partly interdisciplinary groups and are supervised by a select group of practising fellow professionals. There is a wide range of options within the programme so that students can put together their own trajectory and specialisation.