pantheon// 2021 | Home by Study Association Stylos

home (n.) [həʊm] A: the house, apartment, etc. where you live, especially with your family B: a house, apartment, etc. when it is considered as property that you can buy or sell C: the type of family you come from D: someone’s or something’s place of origin, or the place where a person feels they belong

biannual publication of study association D.B.S.G. Stylos faculty of Architecture, TU Delft The Delftsch Bouwkundig Studenten Gezelschap Stylos was founded in 1894 to look after the study and student interests at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at the Delft University of Technology.

colophon volume 26, issue 1, March 2021 2.250 prints Stylos members and friends of the Stylos Foundation receive the pantheon//

advertisements 17 | Stud 32 | InDesem 33 | Eva Veldhoen 36 | Design Express

editorial office BG.midden.110 Julianalaan 132-134 2628 BL Delft pantheon@stylos.nl

publisher Quantes, Den Haag

QQ (qualitate qua) Leyla van der Waarde, Nick Coes

Type of paper FSC certified paper complied vegetable oil ink

editors Charlotte Meijssen David van der Peijl Eveline Scheffel Floor van der Vliet Kati Hartman

cover Evelien van der Peijl

Liz Hoogeveen Max van der Waal Nikita Ham Valdemarr van Staveren

chairman: secretary: treasurer: education bachelor: education master: external affairs: events and initiatives:

board 127 Nick Coes Emma Tulp Floris Pals Nynke Stam Leyla van der Waarde Sophie Verheugd Jules van der Meijs

contact D.B.S.G. Stylos Julianalaan 132-134 2628 BL Delft info@stylos.nl +31 (0)15 2783697 www.stylos.nl

HOME// 04

CHAIRMAN’S NOTE

NICK COES

@ALEXANDER MARTIN

FLOOR VAN DER VLIET & JAN ROTHUIZEN

A POEM

WHAT MAKES A HOME?

A GUIDE TO A PERFECTLY BALANCED STUDENT SPACE

THE OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM NIKITA HAM & ELGER BLITZ

KATI HARTMAN

FAIRCHAIN FARMING VALDEMARR VAN STAVEREN

DAVID VAN DER PEIJL

A NEW WAY OF BUILDING EVELINE SCHEFFEL

FLOOR VAN DER VLIET & LIZ HOOGEVEEN

EVERYDAY LIFE IN DOMIZ CAMP

EXTREME LIVING VALDEMARR VAN STAVEREN

CHARLOTTE MEIJSSEN

46 18

PIETER VERGEER AKA DUTCHSIMS4MASTER

LIVING IN A DUTCH STUDENT HOME EVELINE SCHEFFEL

MAX VAN DER WAAL

48 20

HOMELESS

BUILDING A GIANT MAX VAN DER WAAL

NIKITA HAM

50 22

A STROLL THROUGH DELFT

THE ART OF LIVING CHARLOTTE MEIJSSEN

DAVID VAN DER PEIJL

52 26

BUILDINGS OF WAR INTO BUILDINGS OF PEACE VALDEMARR VAN STAVEREN

THE FUTURE OF STUDENT HOMES LIZ HOOGEVEEN

DESK PHOTOSERIES KATI HARTMAN

SHARED LIVING THROUGH GENERATIONS

UNINHABITABLE ICONIC ARCHITECTURE CHEPOS IPEK TOPLKARA

HUMANS OF BK NIKITA HAM

KATI HARTMAN & FLOOR VAN DER VLIET

GET INSPIRED CHARLOTTE MEIJSSEN

WANT TO FEATURE IN THE NEXT pantheon//? ARE YOU AN ASPIRING WRITER, MAD LAY-OUTER OR JUST IN NEED OF A CREATIVE OUTLET, COME BY STYLOS OR MAIL US AT pantheon@stylos.nl

COMMITTEE

membership Stylos €10,- per year account number 296475

2020/2021

Stylos Fund pantheon// is funded by the Stylos Fund. The Stylos Fund fulfills a flywheel function to stimulate student initiatives at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at the Delft University of Technology. The Stylos Fund offers financial and substantive support to these projects. As a supporter and friend of the Stylos Fund you will be informed on these projects by receiving the B-nieuws every month and two publications of pantheon// every year. We ask a donation of €45 or €250,- per year. More information about becoming a supporter or how to submit an application can be found on www.stylos.nl/fund.

NIKITA HAM CHAIRMAN

LIZ HOOGEVEEN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

account number 1673413 disclaimer All photos are (c) the property of their respective owners. We are a non-profit organisation and we thank you for the use of these pictures.

CHARLOTTE MEIJSSEN EDITOR

EDITORIAL

DAVID VAN DER PEIJL EDITOR

BY LIZ HOOGEVEEN A couple of years ago I went to an exhibition about refugees. The theme of the exhibition was based on one question: “If you had to leave your home and could bring with you only one belonging, what would it be?” Around me I saw a great variety of objects, from musical instruments to a cushion and from photos to novels. All these belongings were meant to make a person feel at home, even if they were far away from it. For me, home is where the music is. I feel at home whenever I am able to play the guitar, be it yours or be it mine, and when music gets played through speakers. For you, it might be something completely different. Maybe it is your golden retriever jumping up at you every time you open the front door. Or it might be those beer bottles you turned into ‘art’ with your roommates. We challenge you to think about your home in a different way: what does it mean to you?

In this edition of pantheon// we will be taking you on a journey from exploring the meaning behind home to touring extreme homes around the world. We will also address less obvious subjects, like what a home means when you do not have a roof over your head or what the chance is that we can transform World War II bunkers into homes. So, grab a cup of coffee, make yourself comfortable and enjoy this journey. We hope to not only surprise you, but inspire you as well. Then maybe, in the process of doing so, we will make you feel a little bit more at home.//

KATI HARTMAN EDITOR

MAX VAN DER WAAL EDITOR

VALDEMARR VAN STAVEREN EDITOR

EVELINE SCHEFFEL LAY-OUT

FLOOR VAN DER VLIET LAY-OUT

LEYLA VAN DER WAARDE QQ

Due to corona pandamic the pantheon// committee has decided to send this addittion to your home. Next time you can choose to pick up your edition at the faculty, to read it online or to have it delivered to your home! Scan the QR code and give up your preference.

NICK COES QQ

CHAIRMAN’S NOTE HOME. It is a theme that could not have been more fitting in these extraordinary times. Our home is the most important place for everyone right now. It is the place where we are being forced to study, work, eat, sleep, exercise and relax, all in this one special place. It makes you wonder what it is that makes your home your home. Is it because it has ‘your’ furniture, because it has ‘your’ family or ‘your’ roommates? Is it because it is ‘your’ atmosphere? Being forced to study at home makes us, architecture students, miss our second or even third or fourth home: the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. All of us, at least I do, miss getting a cup of coffee at the “espressobar” with our friends. We miss being able to walk around the studio to catch up with other students. We miss being able to get some snacks at the Stylos office. It’s strange, not being able to be in that home. It may be strange, but it is also intriguing and challenging. It changes the way you think and it makes you explore new things and new perspectives. At least, that is what it does for me. It makes me think of different things and different places I enjoy or that inspire me. Hopefully, this amazing new issue of pantheon// will inspire you to also learn, discover and explore new things. Or maybe this issue can just give you a feeling of home. Stylos is also learning, discovering and exploring. For example, we are learning how to create an online atmosphere where everyone feels connected, welcome and respected, an atmosphere where everyone can feel at home.

Learning about this raises countless other questions. What does it mean to be connected online? How do you welcome everyone in an online environment? How do you make everyone feel respected? Questions for which finding the answers takes time, numerous brainstorm sessions, new policy points and lots more. The most important factor in finding these answers, however, are you, our members. Without you, Stylos would not be what is it today, let alone be like a home for so many. Being home all the time also makes you keen to know what crazy things are happening outside your front door. The world out there keeps changing and adapting. Topics such as shared living, the arrival of new building techniques and the conditions of our living environments are of great importance within the architectural field. Such topics cannot be ignored by an association or by architecture students. These topics need to be discussed, so we can form our own opinions. Hopefully, this new issue of pantheon// on the topic ‘home’, such a very special place for all of us, can help you get inspired. Sit back, relax, get inspired, explore and enjoy! Stay well, and we hope to meet you all at our second/third/fourth home soon!// Nick Coes Chairman Board 127 of D.B.S.G. Stylos

@ALEXANDER MARTIN To get another perspective on the idea of a ‘home’ and to reveal its deeper meaning, we decided to ask the opinion of Alexander Martin. He is the finding director of Alexander Martin Architects (AMA), an architecture and interior design studio, located in London. With loads of experience in mostly residential projects, we wanted to know how to make a space feel like home. We dove right into the relationship between the atmosphere of a home and factors such as interior design and contact with the client.

The theme of this edition is HOME. What role does the interior design play in the atmosphere of a home? “I think interior design is a quite difficult term to isolate in terms of our work. We are becoming increasingly less interested in the classic idea of interior design and more focussed on the interior as an extension of the overall architecture. Interior design is subjective to taste and fashion, and it can be executed very beautifully or disastrously. We seek a timeless quality in our work, and generally we prefer working with contemporary furniture in our projects. But, at the same time, it is not something we can always have input in. It is important to consider that even though the interior may not be conceived as you would have liked, the quality of the design still shines through. The game for us is to make the architecture strong enough so that interiors do not have an influence on the house. I recall a lecture we went to with Ryue Nishizawa [one of the founders of SANAA architects]. He was very comfortable showing photos of how his Moriyama House was lived in, rather than as it is perceived from the original photography. That stuck with me.” [There is full film on this topic: MoriyamaSan by Bêka & Lemoine, 2017].

That is beautiful. And do you think it is possible to design a home without its interior that still feels warm and comfortable? “There are a lot more things that contribute to the warmth and comfort of a space other than adding furniture. For example, the position within the house, its connection with the outside and to the public domain, the materials, lighting and the consideration of the acoustics are all contributing factors aside from interior decorating. In one word: architecture.”

Alexander Martin - Photo by Eddie Miles

What role does the architecture play in the emotional wellbeing of the residents? Do you use any specific elements to improve their emotional wellbeing? “We spend a lot of time early in a project focussed on the arrangement of spaces and the interrelationships between them. We try to create spaces that are interesting to move around and we like to play with the use of daylight, scale and interconnectivity. Whilst we like to achieve a sense of solidity, in our work, we aim for fluidity in how you move through the spaces. Moreover, we try to disrupt formal arrangements or colour overly austere minimalism where it arises. We also believe it is important to pay attention to acoustics, scale and a balance between open and closed-off spaces.” Besides designing new buildings, you also design transformations of existing houses. How do you ensure the transformation adds up to the feeling of a home? “There is a fairly consistent checklist of what you need to have in a home. And then there is quite a lot of research and testing out different ways to match the brief to the space. It naturally comes to having conversations and testing ideas. While working with existing buildings, there are limitations you have

FLOOR VAN DER VLIET & LIZ HOOGEVEEN | WORDS FLOOR VAN DER VLIET | LAYOUT

to work with. You are just working with a building and trying to make it a piece of architecture. The client has to make it a home. Often our favourite projects to work on are where we develop a close relationship with the client, when they are engaged and focussed on bringing their personality to the space.” While looking through the different projects you designed*, we noticed that you made ‘sensorial boxes’ in your design of the ALMA HOTEL. Could you tell us more about those? “That was a project we did for Porcelanosa [a Spanish manufacturer of ceramic tiles] in Valencia, Spain. The sensorial boxes were kind of linking spaces between the three key spaces: a lobby, a bar and a restaurant. We used those boxes as transition spaces to go from one to the other. These boxes could also be implemented in homes as transition spaces. Small rooms can definitely be quite playful. These boxes bring an opportunity to try something new and be a bit more experimental.” At the moment everyone spends a lot of their time at home and has to work and study there. How do you think homes should be designed differently to optimize our work and study environment? “From our point of view, people have different ways of working. There is not one answer, it is extremely personal. A client who spends most of his time reading books has different needs compared to a client who is involved in financial businesses, for example. While the first one would love a library, the second one requires a large desk with a computer and enough space. The common factor in this example is that both clients need to concentrate. This means that you have to pay attention to the quiet spaces in a house.”

And how could you create a quiet space that is comfortable and compelling at the same time? “We look at interactions, for example with the garden and the public domain. Possibilities to open the space up can result in compelling transformations, which leads to adaptability. Adaptability is a key factor. By creating an adaptable space you can achieve a number of different functions. You might have a different setup for the evening and for the daytime.”

‘Often our favourite projects to work on, are where we develop a close relationship with the client.’ You previously mentioned that designing homes is a personal process. Therefore, one of the key concepts behind AMA is ‘nurturing close relationships with the clients’. Do you think close contact between client and architect results in better homes and why? “I think close contact between the architect and the client is really important. The client carries more responsibility in the result they are going to get than they often realise. If the client is not pushing back or conversing with you, there is less scope for original thinking. We aim to develop a concept that the client buys into and let the project grow from there. When a client has something unusual that they are into, like an unusual hobby or interest, that is something that helps to generate ideas. It can be our role to articulate that in the design.”

ALMA HOTEL project - Drawings by AMA

Do you have an example of a project for a client with such an unusual hobby or interest that you could use for the design? “Yes, during the creation of a project called Muse House in London, the client sent a photo from Hawaii. He wanted to live in the house for the rest of his life and do his meditating there. In the photo was the azure sea, the lava rock and bamboo. That was the palette he wanted for his house and that generated the materials for the design. It is nice to discover these things when you work with the clients.”

‘There was not always a lot to do indoors, so a big part of growing up was spent outside. That may have influenced wanting to create spaces that are open and have beautiful views.’ How do you get to work when the client does not have a clear idea of what they want their house to look like? “The job can start in different ways. Recently we have started to set out a list of detailed questions to begin the conversation. Asking about them, what their interests are, what kind of places they like or are connected to. You have to mine it in a way. People generally have an instinct on what they do and do not like. Just starting the conversation, so that when you come up with ideas there is a reason behind what you are doing. But sometimes a client hates an idea, and that is fine. Find what is interesting and push on that. If it is not going to work, then maybe it is not the best job to go for.” So the client brings inspiration for a design, but we guess that is not enough to achieve a design that is whole. Where else do you get your inspiration from? “It is a balance between the client’s aspirations for the project and the filters we bring to a project. We hope a client is coming to us because they already appreciate our work. Our inspiration for projects comes through open discussion of ideas from a

QS-07 project - Photo by Simone Bossi

FLOOR VAN DER VLIET & LIZ HOOGEVEEN | WORDS FLOOR VAN DER VLIET | LAYOUT

‘The game for us is to make the architecture strong enough so that interiors do not have such an influence on the house.’

wide range of sources, like film, sculpture or music. These can seed ideas and influence the kind of atmospheres and spaces that you want to create. Climate and environment factors also influence our thinking, as does place and contexts and how we write something into a particular context.” Those are an overwhelming amount of things. Do you also get inspiration from the place you grew up in? “I grew up in the countryside in Devon, in a village outside of Exeter, England. We did not have central heating, so the fireplace and the kitchen were the warmest rooms in the house. We lived on a hill that had a huge view of the city. There was not always a lot to do indoors, so a big part of growing up was spent outside. That may have influenced wanting to create spaces that are open and have beautiful views. Growing up, architecture was not something that was discussed or understood. I am on the long path of learning how to do, often learning by experience.” Last but not least, what do you think makes a house a home? “Home is where you shut the door, and the rest of the world is outside. It is kind of a place of sanctuary and safety. You can create the place and make the best reflections of your belongings and interests. You can craft and customise it all you want without anyone judging you and it is the place that you should feel most comfortable. Let it become a home.”//

*See: http://amarchitects.co.uk

SAVERNAKE ROAD project - Photo by Simone Bossi

To my companion in life, who is always there for me Every day I wake up and you are waiting for me At the same place I left you Always present to comfort me You are there for my highs, As well as for my lows. To catch me when I fall A room is empty without you Your understated presence in each home You return in various cultures and in various ways Some say it’s art Others say it’s mundane Some make you impossible Others make you even more comfortable But nevertheless you create feeling that is recognized by everyone I long for you when I am away. Some try to replicate your feeling in other ways and forms But your touch can never be recreated. The way you trace me with such ease and love is just unique. Nobody can replace you or even come near your place in my heart I will forever love you, until the sun no longer shines.// You… My favourite chair.

SOURCES Zehbrauskas, A. & The New York Times. (2014, 13 juni). [Chair in casa Luis Barragán]. The New York Times. 2 [Marcel Breuer Pair of Wassily Style Chairs]. (n.d.). In Webb’s auction portal. 3 Davis, A. (2013, 30 oktober). [Wishbone chair in Frame House by Jonathan Tuckey Design]. In Dezeen. 4 [Ai Weiwei, Fairytale - 1001 Chairs,]. (n.d.). In Artsy.net. 5 Barnes, R., & Dimitrova, B. (z.d.). [Chair in Binocular house]. In metalocus.es. 6 Invaluable Auctions. (2020, 3 december). [Le Corbusier LC4 Chaise Longue]. In invaluable.com. 1

DAVID VAN DER PEIJL | WORDS FLOOR VAN DER VLIET | LAYOUT

A 2

3 1

POEM

What makes For some, it is a warm cup of tea, for others it is the garden, a certain chair or maybe even a bookshelf. In his home, each individual values certain elements more than others. These are the elements that make it your home. On this page, those elements, like your favourite hiding spots, cozy places or just simple objects you adore about your home, are illustrated.

a home?

The living room, kitchen and bedroom make us feel most at home

KATI HARTMAN | WORDS EVELINE SCHEFFEL | LAYOUT

The questionnaire provided many different answers. For some, a specific chair near the window with a view over the garden made their home feel like home. Others simply stated “my bed”, “the building itself” or even “everything” as the things that made them feel like home. In addition, various physical elements were mentioned, like a speaker, candles, photos and a good set of bed sheets.//

89,2% lives together with family, roommates or a partner

Plants are often mentioned as a key factor in making you feel at home

92,7% feels more at home because of their pet

* All statistics and percentages on this page resulted from a questionnaire that was filled out by 120 people from all over the country.

Guide to a perfectly balanced student space As students we have found ourselves in a new era. With no guarantee of universities and libraries to be open, students are often stuck at home in their own student rooms. Studying, designing, drawing and model making all have to be done at home. Even exams have to be taken at your own student room desks, with all the distractions a student housing unit has to offer surrounding you. There used to be a clear difference between living spaces and working spaces. Ideally, a student’s room or a studio apartment were mainly used for living. The university faculties and library were used for studying and working. This distinction between living and working creates balance in day to day life, which plays an important role in preventing burnouts and other mental health issues in students. All of this raises certain questions about the current state of your student room. Firstly, how can students equip their space better for working and studying, while being able to sleep and relax in that same space ? And perhaps equally important: How do we accomplish all this while on a student’s budget?

On a student budget An ordinary student does not have a bulky bank account and redecorating a room can easily get very expensive. In addition, buying things new is not very sustainable. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways to cut down on costs while still getting great results. We have divided the options into two main categories: cutting costs on furniture and cutting costs on everything else. Furniture Furniture can be very expensive. Even shopping at furniture stores with lower prices can still add up. Luckily, there are various ways to get furniture second hand. By doing this, not only do you save money, you also limit your environmental footprint. The best methods for gaining second hand furniture can be split up into three categories. First there are the classic second hand stores or thrift shops, like “Rataplan” and “Kringloop” stores. You will be able to find these everywhere and they usually have a good collection of furniture. A good strategy while shopping at these stores is to search for plain looking furniture that can easily be altered to fit the aesthetic of your space. A great advantage of going to a physical store is that you can inspect everything you buy, giving you the best chance of finding something that is worth your money. Considering that at the time this article was written, all second hand stores were closed, a second way of getting second hand furniture

is through online stores. The best known place for this is “Markplaats”. Alternatively, there are auction sites, like “BVA auctions”, a website where you can bid on anything and everything. If you have a good eye and a bit of patience, you might be able to find some hidden gems on some of these sites. Last, but certainly not least, there are the give-away platforms. These are online platforms, where people offer all kinds of things you can come and pick up for free. Examples of these kinds of platforms can be found on “Marktplaats”, Facebook and on sites like “TOFvuil” and “gratisoptehalen”. Logically, not everything offered on these platforms is in the best state, so it will take a bit of time to find something worth picking up. Everything else Other things you may need to get your hands on while redesigning your space may include paint supplies, tools and materials like wood or screws. If you want to take the easy way, you could consider just buying all of these things at hardware stores. However, you can probably find most of these things for free. We all have family members, friends and neighbours, who might have some left-over paint or building materials just lying around. In addition, you can borrow paint supplies and building tools from those same people.

CHARLOTTE MEIJSSEN | WORDS EVELINE SCHEFFEL | LAYOUT

The basics Before diving into a full room makeover, some important basics need to be taken into consideration. It is important to define what makes a better working space and what makes a better living space. To create a comfortable combination of working and living space, there are a few very important factors to keep in mind: lighting, air, colour and storage.

Air

The surrounding air in working and living spaces has more influence on your overall mood and wellbeing than you might think. As homes are often well insulated, polluted air from cooking, electronic devices, lights and other objects in the home cannot easily escape. This makes ventilating your student room essential for a healthy living and working space. Allow fresh air to enter your room by opening two windows to create a draught. Another way in which you can improve the air quality of your space, is by adding some plants. A great variety of plants are known for not only being able to purify your air, but for being able to remove toxins as well. Devil’s Ivy, Peace Lilies, Spider Plants and Pineapple Plants are a few examples. Coincidentally, these four examples have in common that they are very easy to care for, which might be of great importance to some students. Lastly, the temperature of your space needs to be taken in consideration. Generally, you will need your room to be a bit warmer while working and a bit cooler while sleeping. A logical step to enhance this effect is to move your bed away from your radiators and move your desk more towards them. .

One thing that can be catastrophic for your concentration and your motivation while working and studying is clutter. This is where good storage space comes in. Especially with design oriented studies, where drawing and model making are common occupations, it is important to have a good organizing system. Get or build yourself some boxes, drawers, cabinets and shelves and find a system that works for you. Very easy solutions are adding shelves to the walls and storing boxes under your bed. With adding storage, you can be as creative as you like. A storage box or crate is not that difficult to make. Be sure to make everything you often use easily accessible and to store things you do not need everyday further away.

Colour

The colours surrounding you can have an effect on your mood and on your motivation to work. Both are very important in improving your productivity. Choosing the right colour for your working and living space can be challenging. White walls can feel very calming, but a room filled with only white will feel very sterile. Painting all the walls in a bright, prominent colour will certainly feel very overwhelming, but a brightly coloured accent wall can spark up the whole space. The most important rule when using colour is, again, finding a balance. Choose two or three colours that you like and that complement each other. Any additions or changes should match the chosen colour palette. Make sure also to include muted colours, like white, beige, grey and wood tones in your space to balance out the bright colours. If you do not want to paint, add colour to your space by hanging up artwork and adding decorations. When adding decorations, again, make sure to consider balance. Keep in mind: less is more unless it is simply not enough.

Storage

Lighting

The human brain is used to natural light, which means people are most productive when working near a natural light source. However, you do not necessarily want direct sunlight on your work area as the glare can be irritating and distracting. Considering this, the best course of action and an easy first step into a room transformation is to move your working area nearer to a window, but not in direct sunlight. The next step will be to take a critical look at artificial lighting. The key here is to have a various mix of different artificial lights sources. The main light source in a room is usually a ceiling light, which needs to be soft and generally has a more yellow tone. Then there needs to be a good desk light on your work area. This light needs to be stronger and preferably has a whiter tone, making it easy to read and stay awake and concentrated. In addition to these two artificial light sources, you might want to add a soft yellow reading light near your bed, a standing light near your desk and if you are feeling adventurous, some string lights to the walls. When you are done working and ready to relax, switch off your desk light and your ceiling light, light some candles, get out a book and make yourself comfortable.

Do it yourself Finally, let’s look at some examples of how you can do all this yourself and create your own perfect space. We will discuss three examples of room alteration from three different perspectives: adding colour, adding decoration and adding storage.

Are you feeling bored while being stuck at home and feel the urge to craft something? This is how Floor and her roommates gave their hallway and stairs an Asian inspired transformation. Step 1: Paint the walls of the hall red and the banister of the stairs white. Step 2: Craft some decorative lanterns using cardboard and coloured paper. Step 3: Visit a few second hand stores and try to find some more decorative pieces that would fit the Asian aesthetic. Floor found a huge fan and a big mirror to add to the wall. Step 4: Print some posters to fill up the rest of the wall.

Eveline’s Cabinet (adding storage)

Do you lack storage to put away all your things? Try renovating an old cabinet. This is how Eveline did it. Step 1: Search for old furniture nearby using online give-away platforms on Facebook or on “Marktplaats”. Step 2: Prep your wooden surfaces by sanding them down. Start with a more coarse sandpaper and finish with a fine sandpaper. Step 3: Degrease and clean all surfaces. Step 4: If you want to keep you wood plain, then varnish all surfaces with three coats of varnish. If you want to paint your wood, then use two coats of paint.

Conclusion By taking the basics of creating a balanced space into consideration you can hopefully create a better and healthier space for yourself as a student. Using the different methods handed to you in this article, you will be able to create more using less. This way you will have a space you can feel proud of while working, studying, relaxing and sleeping.// SOURCES Dalziel, L. (2020, 22 september). Air purifying plants: 20 of the best for your home. Better Homes and Gardens. https://www.bhg.com.au/best-aircleaning-plants 2 Maclennan, D. J. (2016, 22 januari). 12 Easy Tips to Help You Improve Your Workspace. Mental Floss. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/74038/12easy-tips-help-you-improve-your-workspace 3 Rees, H. (2020, 27 november). 15 Office Design Tricks That Will Increase Your Productivity at Work. Lifehack. https://www.lifehack.org/articles/ productivity/15-office-design-tricks-that-will-increase-your-productivity-work.html 4 Valk, P. (2018, 16 augustus). De leukste sites voor tweedehands en vintage. Zelfverkopen. https://www.zelfverkopen.nl/blog/de-leukste-sitesvoor-tweedehands-en-vintage 1

Floor’s Hall Mural (adding decoration)

Nikita’s Striped Wall (adding colour)

Does your room feel plain? You may want to consider adding some colour. This is how Nikita did it. Step 1: Ask your neighbours, friends and family if they have some leftover paint lying around and choose a few colours. Step 2: Cover your floor with newspapers, tape off the wall plinth and tape off where you want your stripes to start on the wall. Step 3: Water down your paints until they have the right thickness to easily drip down the wall. Step 4: Put the different colours in individual squeeze bottles. These will help you control the amount of paint you will let drip down. Step 5: Add the different coloured drips to the wall and let gravity do the rest!

VALDEMARR VAN STAVEREN & CHARLOTTE MEIJSSEN | WORDS EVELINE SCHEFFEL | LAYOUT

We sat down with Koen Hartmann, accountmanager of the board of student employment agency Stud. Along with six other students he has put his studies on hold for a year to be part of the Stud board.

How long has Stud been around as an employment agency for students? “Stud has been around since 1998. It was established by ORAS in collaboration with the TU Delft. The reason for Stud’s establishment was the fact that a lot of students were struggling to pay for their tuition. Stud made it easier for students to find a part time job, at that time most of those jobs were at the TU Delft itself.” How has STUD changed over the years, or have you stayed the same? “The formula of Stud has always remained the same: we want to help students find jobs. Stud itself, however, has grown immensely in the last 23 years in the sense that we are now working with a lot more companies. This growth is mainly because we have something to offer which is highly demanded: the ever so infamous students of the TU Delft. In conclusion, our activities have stayed the same, but the company itself has grown.” Are you still trying to solve the same problem: helping students pay for their tuition? “I think that a lot of students still enjoy having a part time job next to their studies. However, we, as an employment company, want to also start offering more permanent jobs for students who have graduated and are looking for a full time starter job. We still want to keep offering part time jobs to students, but we also want to offer more serious jobs in collaboration with bigger partners and companies.” Have you seen the need for this new initiative in the students that pass through Stud? “The initiative mostly came from within Stud itself, but we have always seen that students like to have jobs that complement their own study. They want to use the knowledge from their study in their part time jobs. However, most companies in those specific fields are looking for full time employees. We want to fulfill the needs of these companies and put Stud on the map as a place where you can find a full time job after graduating as well.” You are a non profit organisation. What does this mean for the students in Delft? “All the money we make as a company we give back to the students in a creative manner. Most of this money is put into sponsorships. The students here in Delft come up with a lot of fun initiatives and we want

to help these students fund their projects. We have two channels through which students can request sponsorships: Stud Sponsoring and Stud Fund. Stud Sponsoring is for smaller initiatives, like festivals, parties or lectures. Stud Fund is for the bigger projects and initiatives, like for example the TU Delft Dream Teams. To become eligible for the Stud Fund your project has to meet one at least of our three pillars: innovation, society and sustainability.” Our magazine is mostly read by Architectural students. Do you offer jobs in their field of expertise? “I actually think that Architectural students are the most sought for students in the job offers we get. There are a lot of architecture companies or freelancers who need architectural drawings and blueprints for their building permit applications. Architectural students are often very familiar with CAD programmes like Rhino and Revit. These kinds of skills come in handy when applying for jobs at certain companies.” Thank you, Koen. Do you have a final message you want to give to our pantheon// readers? “Everyday is different, everyday offers new challenges, everyday offers freedom and I enjoy every new day!”//

Pieter Vergeer

a.k.a. DutchSims4Master For some of us, the Sims was the first encounter with architectural design to spark our interest in the discipline. Twenty years after its first release, it is still one of the most popular games in the world and also at our faculty you are able to find plenty of fans of the franchise. The biggest fan of them all is perhaps Pieter Vergeer, also known as DutchSims4Master. Nine years ago, he started making YouTube videos purely focused on building houses in the Sims. Meanwhile, his channel has grown to more than 132,000 subscribers, 830 uploads and he is one of the most successful Sims-youtubers around. At the same time, he is just a “Bouwko” and he successfully completed his bachelor’s degree last year.

What makes Pieter’s videos so unique is their architectural approach. Many viewers of Sims videos are impressed by big kitschy buildings with lots of gold and expensive materials, but you will not find that in Pieter’s buildings. The quality of his buildings lies in the sightlines, vistas and routes. They are buildings a real architecture student/architect envisages. While this architectural approach is one of the keys to the success of his channel, it also turns out to be a huge obstacle. As he puts it: “Because you can put everything in a much more realistic perspective and also know through your studies what can and cannot be done and what works, it makes you look at things differently and takes away many limitations that non-architecture students do not see.” Nevertheless, he always manages to surprise everyone with a new building. His favourite design is the V-HOUSE and we highly recommend you check out this video on YouTube. A couple of architectural highlights steal the show. If you browse through the videos of DutchSims4Master now, you will see more than just Sims videos. Amongst the 830 uploads, SketchUp tutorials pass by regularly. Before Pieter started studying architecture, he already started making buildings in SketchUp. He says: “When I found out that there was such a thing as SketchUp, I thought: ‘Wow, this is really cool!’ In the Sims you can do a lot, but you’re always limited to certain sizes and shapes.

The V-house, Pieter Vergeer’s favourite own building on the Sims.

With SketchUp, there is no limit to what you can do and you can make anything you want.” Many of Pieter’s subscribers came to his channel via SketchUp tutorials and speed-builds. When those first videos went online, he was actually one of the few people posting this kind of content. Even now, those tutorials are some of his most popular videos. One of the videos that immediately caught my eye was “Rowing club in Amsterdam”, a short presentation of a study design he made at the time. As it happens, this was one of the examples given by the teachers when I was working on my own ON2 design and it was a great source of inspiration. After the Sketchup videos and, of course, the countless Sims videos, this was another step towards the serious architecture videos. When I asked him how he had felt about this, he responded: “So I was thinking about those SketchUp videos and the one video in which I explain my design for the Rowing Club, that’s a bit more serious. I might want to do that more often. I would like to use more serious projects, explaining the projects with a concept and so on. I would like to make more videos discussing architecture more in depth, but that has a very small audience, which is a pity. It also takes a lot of time to create such content. When I started [making videos] I was still in secondary school and you just have more time than now as a student. If I were to take it more seriously, it would take a lot of time. Which is nice, but it is not on the schedule to do that more often.”

MAX VAN DER WAAL | WORDS FLOOR VAN DER VLIET | LAYOUT

During the final years of high school, the audience numbers really started to rise. He explains: “At the end of high school, I thought about taking a gap year and seeing where it would take me with my channel, but I realised that I wanted to study, do the real thing, learn real architecture and step away from making the channel bigger.” Now his goals have been achieved and life outside making videos has got busier. Currently, Pieter is doing an internship at Vakwerk Architecten here in Delft, which he enjoys very much. However sad, the channel is slowly moving towards the back burner. He says: “But I’m thinking. I do have a large audience, it is a shame not to do anything with it. It might be an idea to make more videos like the rowing club. Maybe not necessarily university projects, but discussing more real projects and making new SketchUp tutorials would be fun to do.” When asked what is in the pipeline, he remained silent for a while. Then he says: “Actually, I have achieved everything I wanted to achieve with the channel. I have now reached over 100,000 subscribers and last year I was invited to EA’s SimsCamp. That was really my ambition.” SimsCamp is EA’s major event where influencers, game changers and content creators come together to connect with each other, try out the latest expansion packs and talk to the developers. The invitations for this are only issued to a select group of Sims fans and Pieter was one of the lucky ones. When asked how it went, he says: “How was that? Yeah, I was just talking about that being one of my big goals. I think that started when I was 15/16 years old. That’s when I saw other YouTubers going there and I had contact with one of them, James, one of the biggest YouTubers as far as The Sims is concerned. I was still very young myself at the time and I thought ‘well, that seems really cool’. Personally, I also love travelling and this trip is completely organised by EA, I didn’t have to arrange anything myself. If I had to arrange and pay for everything myself it would be impossible, of course. When I was just turned 18, I was invited. That happened to be in the first week of my studies, so I would actually miss the first week of the academic year because I was in San Francisco for SimsCamp. That’s still a bizarre experience, I still think back to that trip every month.”

Pieter at the EA Simscamp 2019 in San Francisco

One of the greatest activities at SimsCamp was talking to the developers. The opinions of “game-changers”, the influential YouTubers like Pieter and James are very much appreciated there. He explains: “At the start you have to sign an embargo stating that you are not allowed to make anything public before a certain deadline. If you do, you have a really big problem. We are also the first players who can ask the developers questions and they ask for our opinion and if everything is clear enough. The game or the expansion packs have almost been released by then so we can’t influence the game that much anymore, but of course we can always make suggestions for the future.” In addition, invitees will have the exclusive opportunity to see the designs, thoughts and inspiration behind the new additions. He continues: “The developers can explain what their intentions were and when they tell us about the inspiration for a particular expansion, we get to see images of them travelling to Hawaii, for example, getting inspiration for the ‘tropical island’ expansion pack. That’s pretty cool to see. The whole event takes about two days and afterwards there’s another day to wander freely through San Francisco. It’s a busy schedule, but really cool.” Do you, like me, get nostalgic throwbacks to all those hours you have invested in playing the Sims? In that case you should most definitely open up your YouTube app and check out Pieter’s videos. Just search for DutchSims4Master and it will pop up immediately. Or, by all means, download the game again and go for it yourself! //

HO ME LESS From the first day of our architecture studies we are trained to design homes. We learn how to shape a building for people to cook lasagne, binge watch their TV series, sleep in late and come home to. But it is never about people who do not have their own oven, television or even their own roof. For a long time the homeless problem has been out of the picture, not merely for the government, but for architects as well. It is time to give them the attention they deserve.

The number of rough sleepers in the Netherlands more than doubled in the past decade, going up from 18.000 in 2009 to 40.000 people in 2019. The extreme growth can be explained by multiple factors. Firstly, there is a huge shortage of cheap residences at the moment. Moreover, there have been cutbacks on mental health care since 2012 and the support after a prison sentence is insufficient. Those issues lead to a greater risk of slipping.

NIKITA HAM | WORDS EVELINE SCHEFFEL | LAYOUT

When CBS, the Dutch Central Statistical Office, came with these numbers, it caused great political uproar. Luckily, they took to the drawing table immediately and last year the Dutch cabinet reserved 200 million euros for tackling the homeless problem. According to them, this money is mostly meant for extra living space and assistance to get back on track. This is a great step after so many years of ignoring the problem, but we still have to see if the right strategy to get all the homeless off the streets is chosen. There is a tendency to come up with short-term solutions such as expanding the capacity of homeless shelters. This is understandable, given the fact that investments in rough sleepers mostly do not directly prove themselves profitable. However, studies and realised projects show that it is utterly beneficial in the long run. The real solution of course is to give all homeless people a house. There is no other measure that would improve the lives of the homeless so considerably than giving them their own place to come home to. It would be the base upon which the rest of their lives can be built. And there would be yet another plus side. By investing in permanent housing for the homeless, money which would normally be spent on police, justice and care would be saved in no time. Finland, for example, is the only European country with a declining number of homeless people. Since the 1980s, the homeless problem has been a continuous focus of their government. In 2007, they took on the Housing First Principle. The foundation of this principle is the acknowledgement that having a place to live is a human right. What follows is that the very first measure taken for a rough sleeper is assuring they get a permanent dwelling. In addition to this, he or she can get the support needed, but always as a choice. Increasing the supply of affordable rental housing was necessary. From the start of this project, the country has given 12,000 people a home. And as suggested before, following this principle turned out to be very beneficial. In Finland they found that with every person they housed, they could save up to 9,600 euros of society’s funds, normally spent on services, per year. Homeless housing can occur in all kinds of forms. In 2013 a project was realized in Vienna where students and former rough sleepers live together. VinziRast-mittendrin consists of multiple three-room apartments, in which mixes between the groups are made. Besides a small personal kitchenette, every floor has a common kitchen, which is shared by 8 to 9 people. There are three floors of these in total. The ground level provides other common functions, such as an eatery, a laundromat and a sewing workshop.

In the design of the building, the architects have taken into account the presence of two entirely different kinds of people having lifestyles of their own. To prevent tensions rising between the two different types of occupants, the architects decided to apply double access everywhere, allowing the opportunity to avoid one another on the stairs. In Jankowice, Poland, you can find another example of homeless housing. Xystudio designed a building for homeless people who are healthy enough to live on their own, but are having difficulty taking care of themselves. In the common rooms are a chapel, offices, rehabilitation rooms, a common room and a canteen. Their own rooms are very small on purpose to encourage them to go outside during the day. This accelerates the resocialization process. The architects integrated the function of the building into the materialisation: “We used ecological materials. Facades are made of rejected materials, a bit like these people, picked up from different places.” By reserving 200 million euros for the homeless problem, the Dutch government has taken a first step. Now is the time to spend the reserved money wisely. Although investing in permanent housing for the homeless may seem expensive, it proves to be very profitable. Even more important, it will improve the lives of homeless people drastically. Not only the Dutch government but also we, as future architects, could play a role in this evolution. By paying a little attention to this matter during our studies, we could design housing to support the development of these people and change their way of living. Everyone has the right to have a home. // SOURCES Nieuwenhuis, M (2019, August 23). Aantal daklozen verdubbeld: “Iedereen kan het worden”. Het Parool. Retrieved from https:// www.parool.nl/nieuws/aantal-daklozen-verdubbeld-iedereenkan-het-worden~b58f02d8/#:~:text=Hoeveel%20daklozen%20 er %20 in%20Ams terdam,dat %20 gebruik maak t %20 van%20 de%20winteropvang..Rijksoverheid. (2020, April 24). € 200 miljoen voor woonplekken met begeleiding voor dak- en thuislozen. Retrieved from https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/ nieuws/2020/04/23/%E2%82%AC200-miljoen-voor-woonplekkenmet-begeleiding-voor-dak--en-thuislozen 2 Bregman, R. (2019, August 23). Het aantal daklozen in Nederland is verdubbeld. Dit kunnen we eraan doen. De Correspondent. Retrieved from https://decorrespondent.nl/9705/het-aantaldaklozen-in-nederland-is-verdubbeld-dit-kunnen-we-eraandoen/3960797855025-fe21aec3 3 Y-Foundation. (2021). Housing First in Finland. https://ysaatio.fi/en/ housing-first-finland Ara. (2021). Reports on Homelessness in Finland. https://www.ara. fi/en-US/Materials/Homelessness_reports/Homelessness_in_Finland_2019(55546) 4 Housing First. (2021). Finland. https://housingfirsteurope.eu/countries/finland/ 5 Krabbendam, P. (2019, March 5). Blog – Gemeenschappelijk wonen: VinziRast-mittendrin Wenen door gaupenraub+/-. De Architect. Retrieved from https://www.dearchitect.nl/architectuur/ blog/2019/03/blog-gemeenschappelijk-wonen-vinzirast-mittendrin-wenen-door-gaupenraub-101207101 6 Pintos, P. (2020, January 1). Home for The Homeless / xystudio. Archdaily. Retrieved from https://www.archdaily.com/931159/home-forthe-homeless-xystudio?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_ result_all ISSN 0719-8884 1

A STROLL THROUGH

DELFT

DAVID VAN DER PEIJL | PHOTOS EVELINE SCHEFFEL | LAYOUT

On a cold winter day I decided to grab my analogue camera and give you a glimpse of the city in a stroll through Delft during the days of Corona. The committee and I actively motivate each other to take more walks and empty our minds during the dark and busy days of the winter months. I want to take you, our readers, along with me to show you the highlights but also the mundane to appreciate.//

DAVID VAN DER PEIJL | PHOTOS EVELINE SCHEFFEL | LAYOUT

BUNKER T R A N S F O R M AT I O N S

BUILDINGS OF WAR INTO BUILDINGS OF PEACE The Atlantik-Wall is a 5000 kilometre stronghold stretching from the most northern point of Scandinavia all the way to the FrenchSpanish border. Remnants of this daunting line of bunkers and walls, designed to protect the German Third Reich during World War II, still stand today, hereby keeping alive the memory of those troubled times, often called ‘’guilty heritage’’. With the Second World War far enough behind us now, a decision needs to be taken concerning the future of these fortresses.

Designed to withstand artillery fire and massive blasts, it is not hard to imagine how these buildings have lasted for so many years. However, even these robust constructions have an expiration date. Even though here in the Netherlands there are still a handful of old bunkers which can be visited, they may not bring the experience you were hoping for. Many have withered in neglect, are crumbling, riddled with litter and spray-painted with more tags than visible on the faces of 21st century hiphop artists. With only a handful of World War II survivors still alive to tell the story, it will soon be the physical remnants like these bunkers themselves that will have to carry out the task of reminding future generations of what happened in the past. This raises the question why these structures, despite being placed on the Dutch military heritage list, have been let to fall in such decay. The Atlantikwall was a massive project, for which countless villages were reduced to rubble. When the dust settled, walls and barricades had claimed the spots where once houses and stores stood. These defensive structures, which have been beautifully photographed by Guiie Sandgaard, continually caused destruction and many coastal villages turned into ghost towns. Finally on the 6th of June 1944, allied forces penetrated the wall which started the domino effect that led to the end of the German regime, albeit with the immense loss of human life. This grim history makes investing in the restoration of these buildings a difficult matter. Why would you spend people’s tax money on something that caused the destruction of so many lives. The Cocondo project may offer a solution on how to approach such a renovation. This initiative is one in many projects around the globe which is focused on the refurbishment and reuse of bunkers. In just 35 days Cocondo collected 101% of their needed funds by means of crowdfunding, showing that a proper redevelopment plan is enough to overcome the image of ‘’guilty heritage’’. Let us take a look at how they managed to achieve this. Shortly after the end of World War II, destruction of property was the cause of a high housing shortage.

Because of this, many empty bunkers were transformed into emergency homes. Hard times often prove to be the source of innovative solutions, from which inspiration can be drawn to solve novel problems. This is what the Cocondo project is all about. In these times of ‘’relative’’ peace, the Dutch beaches have been again turned into the leisure attraction they are supposed to be. This and increasing summer temperatures are the cause of an increased demand for beachside getaways. In the coming years beaches will not be open and quiet, but instead filled with portable beach shacks. Why not look at what is already there, lying there dormant in between the dunes. In 2020, Cocondo started their pilot project, renovating an almost 80 year old communications bunker. While in the past the bunkers’ occupants would have consisted of two German soldiers, it was quickly turned into a summer retreat for two adults and two children. The Cocondo project focuses not only on the refurbishment of the Dutch coastal bunkers, but on the renovation of the surrounding landscape as well. With many visitors performing diverse activities in and around the bunkers, the surrounding landscape has been trampled and turned into a sandbox reminiscent of your average children’s playground attraction. Privatising the existing terrain may seem superficial and meeting capitalistic ideals, but does have an enormous positive influence on the existing ecosystem. What’s more, all income generated by rent will be reinvested into the maintenance of the natural reserve of the Dutch dune landscapes. While there are many projects focused on the reuse of old bunkers, none manages to stand out like the Cocondo project does. By looking further than simply creating more housing, they have managed to keep alive important memories while restoring damaged ecosystems at the same time. Buildings of war have been transformed into buildings of peace. Bunkers that have allowed destructions in the past, are now granted to do something in return. Isn’t this about time?//

VALDEMARR VAN STAVEREN | WORDS FLOOR VAN DER VLIET | LAYOUT

SIMILAR PROJECTS Bunker 599 - RAAAF Bunker Farms in Arnhem War Bunker Refurbishment - B-ILD

SOURCES Sandgaard, G. (2015, 27 februari). The Atlantik Wall: The Bunker Sessions [Foto]. https://guiiesandgaardferrer.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/ the-atlantic-wall-the-bunker-session/ 2 Cocondo - A place to stay. (z.d.). [Foto]. https://cocondo.nl/ 3 Nationaal Archief. (2009, 1 juni). Vakantie in Duitse bunker [Foto]. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:Vakantie_in_Duitse_bunker_-_Celebrating_holidays_in_German_bunker_(3585536239).jpg 4 Van Dop. (2020, 1 februari). Oogjes toe in oude bunker onder de duinen? Hier kan het straks [Foto]. https://www.ad.nl/waterweg/ oogjes-toe-in- oude-bunker- onder-de-duinen-hier-kan-hetstraks~a906422c/ 1

generations

through

living

Shared

We are living in a time when urbanization has become standard and the implementation of smaller households has increased. We see more and more shared living initiatives, in all shapes and sizes. There are many reasons why co-living has become more popular nowadays. For instance, shared living can reduce loneliness, since a home is not only an accommodation, but also a place for social interaction. Common areas can provide social interaction within your housing situation. Shared living is an option for all people, no matter in which stage of life they are in. Therefore, we have picked three projects to discuss, which are all quite different and directed at different target groups: students, millennials and the elderly. All projects have incorporated communal facilities. Whether facilities are shared depends on the residents’ needs.

Students The first project we chose for this article is the living complex LUCIA. LUCIA was designed by VanWilsumVanLoon and Standard Studio. Whereas in the past the building served as a municipality office, it has now been transformed into a co-housing environment. The transformation created 218 studios and eleven commercial units, all intended for Erasmus University College (EUC) students. When studying EUC at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, it is required that you live in the LUCIA residence for the first year. The requirement to stay in LUCIA as a freshman was mainly inaugurated to serve the many international students following the programme. Offering student housing for all freshmen will give them the opportunity to get to know each other, which will make creating an academic community much easier.

Within LUCIA, students have their own private furnished rooms of 18 square metres, including a bathroom and kitchenette. There are common rooms, such as music areas and laundry rooms, but also outside terraces where students can study, relax, and get to know each other. On the one hand, the restricted personal living area should make it appealing to go to one of the many common rooms. On the other hand, as all the services a student needs are provided in the micro-apartment, a student could choose to stay in his own personal space. This could still lead to a form of self-isolation within the huge apartment complex, with the risk of easily feeling lonely.

LUCIA Residence in Rotterdam by VanWilsumVanLoon and Standard Studio3

KATI HARTMAN | WORDS FLOOR VAN DER VLIET | WORDS & LAYOUT

The elderly The third shared living complex we have chosen to highlight is the Residential Care Home in Graz, Austria. The retirement home was designed by Dietger Wissounig Architekten, who created a place for 105 elderly residents to call home. One aspect that makes this co-housing complex completely different in comparison to the other two projects is the fact that there are caregivers that look after the residents and take care of their medical needs. The retirement home offers one nurse per 15 residents. The nurses have their stations and secondary rooms nearby. The communal lifestyle here is not just a choice but a necessity for the residents of the complex. Resembling the Treehouse in Seoul slightly, this complex is composed round a communal “village square”, which includes the central nurses’ station, an oratory, a cafe, a hairdresser and an atrium. Besides, each separate residential group has a large common living area. The communal lifestyle is not only reflected by in the design of the building, but also in the space around it. For example, there are various lengths of walks around the complex, allowing the residents to get some exercise.//

Treehouse in Seoul by Bo-daa2

Millenials In metropolitan areas, co-living is more and more upcoming. Due to the rise of urbanization, this concept is being used as a way of providing more affordable housing as well as for creating a sense of community. Located in one of the most expensive neighbourhoods of Seoul, Gangnam-gu, is the Treehouse, designed by BoDAA. This co-living apartment building has 72 units for single persons or for couples and their pets. The living units are spread over six floors and all have their own characteristics. The apartments are all relatively small, varying from 16,5 to 33 square metres. In addition, the Treehouse has various communal facilities within the building: collaborative work spaces, relaxing lounge spots, a communal kitchen, a laundry room, pet baths and an internal garden. The way the building has been composed shows how the architects wanted to promote a communal lifestyle. The studios and lofts are stacked around an internal garden. This atrium is the heart of the building and the first place residents enter. Still, “community is not forced but coaxed,” Bo-DAA emphasises, since each micro-apartment has a private bath and kitchenette. The residents always have a choice between sharing the common amenities or enjoying the privacy of their own lofts.

Residential Care Home in Graz by Dietger Wissounig Architekten6

SOURCES Abdel, H. (2021, 3 maart). Treehouse Coliving Apartments / Bo-DAA. Geraadpleegd van https://www.archdaily.com/932735/treehouseapartment-building-bo-daa 2 bo-daa. (z.d.). Residential. Geraadpleegd van https://www.bo-daa. com/en/residential 3 Housing. (z.d.). Geraadpleegd van https://www.eur.nl/en/euc/campus/housing 4 Miao, S. (2020, 17 augustus). The Rise of Co-living Under the Influence of Urbanization in China. Geraadpleegd van https://www.archdaily. com/945504/the-rise-of-co-living-under-the-influence-of-urbanization-in-china 5 Overstreet, K. (2018, 5 april). Sharing Your Home with Strangers: What Does the Future Hold for the Co-Living Craze? Geraadpleegd van https://www.archdaily.com/890685/sharing-your-home-withstrangers-what-does-the-future-hold-for-the-co-living-craze?ad_ medium=widget&ad_name=navigation-next 6 Rojas, C. (2019, 24 oktober). Residential Care Home Andritz / Dietger Wissounig Architekten. Geraadpleegd van https://www.archdaily. com/787044/residential-care-home-andritz-dietger-wissounigarchitekten 1

Iconic architecture is a term that a lot of people with their creations. Posing such questions sacrifice the needs and comfort of the users are quite familiar with. These are the masterful towards the design and functioning of any piece which are the constant owners and subjects creations of what we call starchitects made in of iconic architecture may result in a reaction of the spaces that they have created. Because the prime of their careers, depicting a solidified within the margins of “who are you to say that?” most starchitects see themselves above Iconic architecture is a term that a lot of due to how photogenic the structure is. This dynamics of form following function and vice functionality and are heavily carried away version of their imagination and intellect. In some unless you are an architectural critic, and that is people are quite familiar with. These are diminishes the validity of the criticism that is versa, there is a new kind of dynamic that cases, produced something to become an both another story. renowned lost infor a the dream the masterful creations ofhaving what we call directed towards these world comes into play. Whileand searching mostof realizing the essence icon is what gives them this title. Following the of their dreamy master piece, they forget that starchitects made in the prime of their starchitects, along with their creations. Posing impressive forms which are also so unique birth of such buildings and structures and them Iconic architecture on a level of principle their creation is way more than maybe a song, careers, depicting a solidified version of their such questions towards the design and that no one might have never imagined them which the listener taking In their rightful place withinfunctioning our cityscapes, which createsarchitecture the basis for their imagination imagination and intellect. some cases, of any piece of iconic before, these starchitects sometimes even can quite easily skip with they are adorned with landmarks and andwithin realization is focused “wowthe factor”. having produced something to become anthe title ofmay result in a reaction the margins of on the sacrifice needs andtoday’s comforttechnology. of the users The hassle of creating a cherished by millions of visitors that goare through forunless the most which is irredeemably uninhabitable is icon is what gives them this title. Following “who you to say This that?” you arepart an is purely which based are the on constantspace owners and subjects the birth of such buildings andtroubles structures and them architectural critic, and is another story. of everchanging the spaces that theymuch have created. Because extensive to see and to be near thethat form. Keeping true to the greater than the impact of any form of them taking their rightful place within our In some Text: Ipek Toplkara, Lay-out: Tessa van following function most starchitects above We can always stop going art on its subjects. them for a few moments. cases, though dynamics of form and vice see themselves much greater th cityscapes, they arethe adorned with the titleiconic onlyAmelsvoort and are heavily carried away building becomes because of who versa, there is a new kind offunctionality dynamic that to a certain artist’s concerts, we can stop art on its subject of landmarks and cherished by millions and for lostthe in amost dream of reading realizing their the essence was behind it, and forofthe most part due to how comes into play. While searching books, watching their movies, to a certain artis visitors that go through extensive troubles Iconic architecture on a level of principle which of their dreamy master piece, they forget that photogenic the structure is. This diminishes the impressive forms which are also so unique we can stop going to certain art galleries reading their bo to see them and to be near them for a creates the basis for their imagination and their creation is way more than maybe a song, validity of the criticism that is directed towards that no one might have never imagined them if the work is not up to our taste, we can we can stop goin few moments. In some cases, though the realization is focused on the “wow factor”. which the listener can quite easily skip with both these world renowned starchitects, along before, these starchitects sometimes even pick the restaurants that we frequent go to. the work is not u building becomes iconic only because of This for the most part is purely based on today’s technology. The hassle of creating a the restaurants t who was behind it, and for the most part the form. Keeping true to the everchanging space which is irredeemably uninhabitable is not enjoy how t environment tha indispensable.

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Uninhabitable Iconic Architecture

IPEK TOPLKARA | WORDS TESSA VAN AMELSVOORT | LAYOUT

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The form haswhich becomehave the become issue is carried insideand their day to day as landmarks, Zaha from thelives cameras of tourists. But then what brand and face for these they try to co-exist with the wondrous tourists her parameterized curves which have their if that is the essence of an iconic creation architects. They have their set that want to take photos of their mailbox, essence and inspiration within a scarf which and the price of beauty. Currently some language which depicts what and door handle. For they are living inside a fell on the ground, Le Corbusier’s machinery iconic apartments slowly shut their doors has worked for a given architect piece of artistic masterpiece these people have in concrete and so forth. However, these to visitors as the occupants’ complaints to create their own character limited freedom regarding the decisions that famous forms also face the danger of going outweigh the desire to present to the world. that they inject to their creations they can take about their living space and out of fashion which might be the end of Nevertheless, who is to say that their beauty as well. Gehry being famous for whom they share it with. their existence as they lose popularity and will be eternal and that they become an his titanium clad waves which face abandonment. So,This these starchitects are so shall unforgettable chapter of architectural history have become landmarks, Zaha and raises the question, the encountering a duality of form follows teachings. say the least spaces cannot be her parameterizedalso curves which starchitects let go off their iconic imagesTo and time based on attaining eternal beauty and andimagined devoid of inhabitants to bring them produce equally beautiful functionally icon status. purpose, other wise they are doomed to be sound spaces or tone their glamor to give their oversized sculptures occupying occupants peace and privacyabandoned away from the built environment. // cameras of tourists. But thenour what if that is the essence of an iconic creation and the price of beauty. Currently some iconic apartments slowly shut their doors to visitors as the occupants’ complaints outweigh the desire to present to the world. Nevertheless, who is to say that their beauty will be eternal and that they become an unforgettable chapter of architectural history teachings. To say the least spaces cannot be imagined devoid of inhabitants to bring them purpose, other wise Images: 1. Falling Water (source: pxhere.com, adjusted by Tessa van Amelsvoort). 1 they are doomed to be abandoned oversized Sources: 1. Peter Ho. Function Follows Form?. Chepos is the independent architecture sculptures occupying our built environment.March 25, 2009. BraveArchitecture.com

chepos

magazine of study association Cheops of 2. Jamie Rann. Narkomfin: can a utopian housing project survive in modern Moscow?. the Technical University Eindhoven.Images: For 1. Falling Water (source: pxhere.com, The Calvert Journal. 3. Hugh Howard. Find out Which Renowned Homes were Practically adjusted by Tessa van Amelsvoort). every edition, Chepos and pantheon// 1 Sources: 1. Peter Ho. Function Follows Uninhabitable. n/a. Bobvila. 4. Brianna Rennix & Nathan J. Robinson. Why You Hate Contemporary publish one of each other’s articles. Form?. March 25, 2009. BraveArchitecture.com 2. Jamie Rann. Narkomfin: can a utopian Architecture. October 31, 2017. Current Affairs. housing project survive in modern Moscow?. April 16, 2014. The Calvert Journal. 3. Hugh Howard. Find out Which Renowned Homes were Practically Uninhabitable. n/a. Bobvila. 4. Brianna Rennix & Nathan J. Robinson. Why You Hate Contemporary Architecture. October 31, 2017. Current Affairs.

FLOOR VAN DER VLIET | WORDS & LAYOUT

Everyday life in Domiz Camp by Jan Rothuizen What if you cannot go home anymore? What if having a home is a luxury? What if your current home is a tent in a refugee camp? How would you make it feel like home?

This drawing by Jan Rothuizen is part of Refugee Republic, an interactive transmedia documentary about everyday life in Domiz Camp, a Syrian refugee camp in northern Iraq. The intention was to broaden and enrich the existing picture people have of refugee camps by showing everyday life in the camp. We met Jan Rothuizen at his studio in Amsterdam, the city where he feels most at home. He is a Dutch artist, known from The Soft Atlas of Amsterdam and his monthly drawings for the daily national newspaper De Volkskrant.

‘Just begin. It always turns into something’

play Het boek van fotograaf Eva Veldhoen over spelen als levenshouding is nu te koop via evaveldhoen.com

Jan often illustrates the places he visits, inspired by his day-to-day experiences there. The drawings mostly consist of detailed graphics and written stories about the places. He writes down what he sees, feels and thinks. His drawings and writings are non-linear; it is up to the observer to decide where to start or in which direction to read. Since Jan sees a lot of different homes for his art, we thought it was interesting to hear about his thoughts about the theme “home”. According to Jan, a home is all about safety, security, day-to-day routines and things you only miss when you do not have them around. All these aspects are missing in refugee camps.//

FROM HAND MODELING TO BIM, WHY CREATIVITY MEANS BUILDING IN CONTEXT

ÜLEMISTE RAIL BALTIC TERMINAL COURTESY OF 3+1 ARCHTECTS.

With the release of #Vectorworks2021, we want to give you a closer look at our 2021 Architecture Feature Design. This project is a railway terminal proposed for Ülemiste, a subdistrict of the Estonian capital Tallinn.

RENDERING COURTESY OF 3+1 ARCHTECTS.

A Concept #MadeWithVectorworks Designed by 3+1 architects, this project has it all — eye-catching geometry, complements to the existing urban fabric, and a sophisticated process from start to finish.

Hanna-Liisa Mõtus of 3+1 architects reports a larger vision for this area in Ülemiste to be completed by 2045. As an extension of the Tallinn airport’s development, 3+1’s planning indicates intentions for a dense urban Smart City.

3+1’s design submittal is provocative with its use of red tones; the block-like structure and strong leading lines draw the eye overhead to the central pedestrian room, where one will be able to watch as high-speed trams pass underneath. One of the key aspirations for the project was to develop a pedestrian-friendly build which can be viewed as a destination, not a step along the way.

She calls the proposed terminal and its surroundings a “Gate of Estonia” — because of its prominent position in the Estonian capital, the area would be the first on-foot impression of the country for many travelers. By 2045, this area in Ülemiste would serve as Estonia’s welcoming committee, inviting travelers into the country through a modern, bright, commercial space.

Longtime Vectorworks users, 3+1 architects view the software as crucial to the management of their design process. But before software, everything starts with a 2D hand sketch and physical 3D model. “We always start with a physical model to analyze and understand volumes and the relationships of spaces,” said Ilmar Valdur, architect and partner at 3+1. “3D modeling, 2D drawing, and hand modeling — it all works very much together.” He added that digital 3D modeling still happens on a 2D screen, and that experiencing true three dimensions is essential to the 3+1 process. The practice is far from exclusive — for 3+1, hand drafting and digital modeling work together in harmony. As a design tool, 3+1 architect Karin Harkmaa said “Vectorworks makes it much easier and faster to explain and interpret ideas.” When they started modeling their design idea in Vectorworks, the architects imported all the necessary landscape data and point clouds. They created two site models, one a large-scale contextual model and the other more narrowly focused on the terminal. “Software is a tool for us to do our designing,” said Valdur. “Today, we’ve reached somewhat of a breaking point through BIM and 3D modeling — this software has a very special role to manage and to take control. It’s allowed us to take on much better and much more complex architecture in our small office.” There’s of course much more involved in a project than modeling. 3+1 relies on Vectorworks for collaboration and presentation, taking advantage of Project Sharing internally and IFC files externally. “It’s important to create 2D presentations at every phase, and Vectorworks is very organized at that,” said Mõtus.

What Does Creativity Mean to You? Simplicity to design the complex — it’s what #Vectorworks2021 is all about. Software doesn’t have to get in the way of design and being creative. Design and creativity go hand-in-hand, which is why we thought it would be nice to hear how the architects at 3+1 define “creativity” — what exactly does it mean to be creative?

RENDERING COURTESY OF 3+1 ARCHTECTS.

“Whether we’re working on an urban project, a private house, or a public building, I hope to make an impact for the client and users of the space,” said Mõtus. “Your surrounding environment impacts so much of everyday life, both emotionally and physically,” she added. “So for me it’s really important to understand the client’s context, their needs, and their behaviors and to delicately but also interestingly translate that into space and spatial relations. So, for me, creativity always grows out of the context of the client and users of the space.” vectorworks.nl

RENDERING COURTESY OF 3+1 ARCHTECTS.

A new way of building: 3D printing on site The building industry is constantly changing. New materials are discovered, new styles are introduced and new techniques are developed. One of these techniques is “onsite 3D printing”. For this technique, a small product printer is developed into a substantial, movable machine that will print any building material under the condition that it can melt at a reasonable temperature and will harden again without getting brittle.

The first attempt at 3D printing of a constructive element was a wall by Professor Behronh Khoshnevis of the University of South Carolina in 2004. Professor Behronh Khoshnevis developed a 3D printer that extruded concrete layers instead of plastic. He mounted the printer on a robotic arm to give it the extension to print in this dimension. This machine was further developed by different companies into a machine that could print up to an area of 10 square metres and up to a height of 10 metres without having to be moved. Besides the dimensions of the machine and the printing area, also the materials have since been developed. Where Professor Behronh Khoshnevis printed solely with concrete, it is now possible to print any material that will melt at a reasonable temperature and will harden again. There are even companies looking into the materials in terms of recycling. They have, for example, found a way to print splintered wood pallets and natural stone waste besides only bioplastics. A new building technique comes with new changes to the building site. The 3D printing machine is quick and small compared to the equipment used on regular building sites. No additional machines are necessary to complete the build. The only things needed on the site are a container of 20 feet to transport and store the printer and material, a pumping system to pump the fluid material, a 3D printer and a control system that can be used manually and from a distance. Because of this control system the printer is easy to use and can be operated on site. Due to the limited amount of machines and materials needed on site, the building site as well as the number of people needed can be smaller. On top of that, the 3D printer is a quicker way of building, with buildings completed within a month. Therefore the whole building process can be made shorter, even by years. Additionally, as a result of the closed and simple system, less waste will be produced, allowing for a smaller ecological footprint on the building side. Using 3D printing, a building with a high level of detail can be accomplished. This is made possible by the precision of the robotic arm and by the fact that the details are pre-programmed instead of made by hand.

What’s more, standardised objects such as walls, window or door frames and other prefabricated elements can be customised and modified to the user’s liking. Besides, there will be less waste as the raw material will go straight into a finished product without any intervening steps that might produce waste. Nevertheless, there are also some disadvantages to 3D printing a building. For example, the current building regulations on, for example, insulation, fireproofing, wind load and foundation, are not regulated to the specifications of the 3D printer and the materials used. Over the years, some have managed to build an entire building regardless of the building regulations, using only a 3D printer. The first example is close to home, in Amsterdam. Here, a group of young entrepreneurs built a canal house using a 3D printer. The canal house was a research and development project of three years and started in 2014. Now, the canal house is used as an exhibition space to showcase what can be done with a 3D printer and to allow this technique more recognition. “The main difficulties come from the fact that the process of 3D printing buildings is not today recognized as a construction method by many codes and standards bodies. As the printed structures are not traditional, the calculations of resistance and resistance in time are difficult to realize, that is why the habitable works will have to be tested on a case by case basis at the beginning.” - Axel Thèry of Constructions-3D, 2018 D., J. (2019b, September 3). 3D Printing: The Future of Construction.

A little further from home, in China, the architecture firm HuaShang Tengda built a mansion of 400 square metres. The goal of this project was for the building to sustain a magnitude 8 earthquake. HuaShang Tengda accomplished this goal by pouring 20 tons of concrete to build walls up to 8 feet thick. Even though this is fairly impressive already, this is not even the most mesmerizing part. The whole building was completed within only 45 days, showing the additional speed in construction by 3D printing. Lastly, in Dubai, an office building of over 250 square metres was constructed by the Syska Hennessy architectural firm. This building was printed with a 3D printer of only 36x12x6 metres and the construction took only 17 days. The office was completed in 2016 and became the first fully functioning 3D printed building. Besides the fact that this building was fully printed, it is also labelled as “office of the future”, meaning that this office meets the highest ecological and technical standards.

EVELINE SCHEFFEL | WORDS & LAYOUT

Thanks to this new, innovative technique, the building sites of residential buildings will change drastically. Sites will become smaller, more efficient and quicker in terms of production. Houses can be built in only one go of the 3D printer due to the small diameters of the houses and the limited heights. Still, 3D printing of buildings has disadvantages, the building regulations not being upto-date on this new technique only being one of them. Although there are many companies experimenting with new building materials, the currently used building materials are very limited in terms of aesthetics. Nowadays, mostly concrete is used. This can, of course, be plastered, but in terms of structure this limits the options. Even so, by 3D printing a house you can modify and customise every individual house and achieve a high level of detailing with limited manpower. // SOURCES 1

D., J. (2019, 3 september). 3D Printing: The Future of Construction.

Geraadpleegd

van

https://www.3dnatives.com/en/3d-printing-

construction-310120184/ 2

Eldredge, B. (2016, 6 juli). 3D-Printed Chinese Villa Is Virtually

Indestructible.

Geraadpleegd

van

https://archive.curbed.

com/2016/7/6/12096052/3d-printed-home - china- concrete architecture 3

Syska Hennessy Group. (2016, 21 december). Office of the Future,

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Geraadpleegd van https://syska.com/ project/office-of-the-future-dubai-arab-emirates/ 4

Ellis, G. (2021, 4 februari). The Truth About 3D Printing in

Construction.

Geraadpleegd

van

https://constructionblog.

autodesk.com/3d-printing-construction/ 5

3D print canal house. (2019). 3DPRINTCANALHOUSE by DUS

Architects. Geraadpleegd van https://3dprintcanalhouse.com/ about-the-3d-print-canal-house-1

In Conversation with Fairchain Farming This item is based on a conversation I had with with FairChain Farming, a branch of Moyee Coffee that works in close cooperation with the FairChain Foundation on creating systemic change in the coffee industry. Their aim is to reduce the need for development aid through investing in value adding activities in the production countries of origin and by producing according to the true cost methodology that prevents negative externalities like poverty and deforestation. Joining me in this conversation is project manager, Joost van Uden. We will be talking about a new and exciting project they have started in the Mizan area in Southern Ethiopia.

To start off could you give us a quick summary of what you are doing in Mizan, and why you feel that this project is of importance? “In march 2020 we started the redevelopment of 257 hectares of an old coffee farm. The current state of the coffee farm is haggard due to years of inactivity; We will be building it up again ‘’brick by brick’’ turning it into a regenerative bio plantation. We will do this by reinvesting in the local ecosystem, integrating local vegetation in a symbiotic way with the newly planted coffee trees. Another important part of what we are doing has to do with the farmers and other employees living on the farm. We want to build up this farm in a way that proactively involves the people working on it. Mizan farm will not just be their workspace, it will also be their home and community. “ Why is it important to give your farmers a sense of home and community? “As I said earlier, we want to create a regenerative farm that can serve as a blue print for regaining lost forests. This is a long term process, for which we need a team of farmers who are actively involved in the project and embedded in the surrounding community we hope to inspire. We believe that the best way to conjure that investment is by making them as much a part of the farm as we are ourselves. For this the farm needs to be their home, their project and their community. Since our aim is to contribute to the much needed sector reform in Ethiopia, an approach that involves the community is pivotal for upscaling nd widespread adoption. “

Now we know about the why, but what about the how. Could you elaborate further on how the theme ‘’home’’ fits in with what you are planning for the Mizan farm? “‘Well, let us start at the beginning. Currently there are over 50 employees living on the farmland. These people live in handmade huts made from of wood and loam, which on itself is not a problem considering that it is the vernacular way of building houses. The real problem is the undefined, or perhaps over defined, division of property. At the moment, all employees are still living scattered across land owned by an overseeing company, meaning us. What we want to do is give every farmer a plot of 2 hectares, making them the owner of that piece of land. On this land we will collaboratively help them build permanent homes for themselves and their families. Our ambition is that, in time, they will also be the owners of the coffee plants on their land, not us.” But how will you ensure that the farmers will be using this given land in the regenerative way you mentioned earlier? “That is a very good question, which brings us to the second part of creating the feeling of home; community. Apart from farmland there will also be a central area where the coffee will be processed and stored before being shipped to the coffee roasters in Addis Ababa. In this central area we are also going to build a ‘’campus’’. After finding farmers who are committed to the project, we will be offering them education in farm management, soil preservation and other sustainable farming methods. This ‘’campus’’ will also a be a communal area where all inhabitants of the farm can come together as well as the people and communities surrounding the farmland.“ You said you want to collaboratively help the farmers build their homes. How are you planning on mediating in the construction and design of their homes, or will it be a more hands off type of deal? “The vernacular building methods are impressive as it is. It is customary to build wooden frames on which loam, a great natural insulator, is applied during the dry season. After the wet season has passed, they patch up what has washed away, repeating this process after every seasonal change. We do not want to force western construction methods on them but we have been talking about bringing a compressed earth block press to the site, which will be at their

VALDEMARR VAN STAVEREN | WORDS EVELINE SCHEFFEL | LAYOUT

disposal if they want to use it. Furthermore we want to offer them education in biogas production and in natural water filtering, by which they could make their household more circular. “

the participants will be urged to strive for transdisciplinary solutions in which different aspects will merge to form a strong new perspective.”

You talk a lot about offering education. But how do you find out what the farmers need? How do you establish a (re)education programme that the farmers and other inhabitants of your farm will embrace? “As I said earlier, we do not want to be some western company who dictates every single aspect of their lives on the farm. They have knowledge we know little of, just like we have knowledge they know little of. Therefor it is important to establish a twoway knowledge sharing relationship. On the central campus periodic get-togethers will be hosted where after mutual understanding of current affairs, decisions will be made. We call this the Trans-disciplinary approach. During workshops people from various disciplines participate, each with their own knowledge and insights. The workshop methodology is based on collaboration and the exchange of knowledge between different disciplines and sectors. By sharing during interdisciplinary sessions

Thanks for joining me in this conversation. Last but not least, is there a place where we can follow the process and get updates on other projects? “Yes there is you can follow our Instagram/ Facebook pages (@moyeecoffee and @fairchainfoundation) and updates will be given on the blog on fairchain.org. And to all students reading this article. If you like to participate in this unfolding future we welcoming you to put on your country boots and take your toolkit to Mizan and help with one of the many building projects.”// SOURCES Larson, K. (2000). Louis Kahn: Unbuilt Masterworks. New York, The Monacelli Press. 2 Leslie, T. (2005). Louis I. Kahn Building Art, Building Science. New York, NY: George Braziller, Inc. 3 Wiseman, C. (2007). Louis I. Kahn – Beyond time and style: A life in Architecture. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 4 Rosa, J. (2010). Kahn. Steyl: de Volkskrant & Taschen. 5 Freedman, L. (1953). Louis Kahn [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.archdaily.com/ 6 Salk Biological Institute. (2014). Salk Biological Institute [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://architizer.com/ 1

A home is more than the space behind our front door. Just as much, it is the place we go to outside when we get tired of the four walls surrounding us. It is where we meet people, where we can relax and where we could play as a child. In a neighbourhood, the playground has the important function of bringing the residents together. Because what is a neighbourhood if it is not a place for children to play? Carve is a design and engineering bureau that focuses on the planning and development of public space, particularly for use by children and young people. Their design method of also looking from a sociological and psychological point of view makes them a forerunner in their field. Next to countless projects in The Netherlands, they have built in almost every continent. Their project Be-Mine in Beringen, Belgium, is selected by Landizer as one of the 10 most influential landscape architecture projects of the decade. In this article, Elger Blitz (founder of Carve) analyzes the current use of the “Van Beuningenplein” ten years after realisation. With the initial concept of the design: an outdoor living room.

The outdoor

“A living room for the neighbourhood” Back in 2008 the proposal for “Van Beuningenplein” in Amsterdam was approached as “an outdoor active living room”. Now more than 10 years after the realisation this seems even more relevant. Since the covid -19 pandemic, municipalities have become all the more aware that outdoor multifunctional open spaces are an asset for densifying cities and increasing numbers of residents, of all ages. Carve is one of the designers of Van Beuningenplein and known for its play-based approach and designs from the perspective of children where adults are happily invited. Getting children to be physically active is not an art, because they do it of their own volition. Providing enough suitable space for physical activity and play turns out to be a more difficult task. Places where children can freely move, play and do sports – unprogrammed, unstructured and unsupervised. Creating such places is difficult in a crowded city, but is of vital importance. The Netherlands has plenty of policies designed to let children grow up healthily, to eat healthily and to play and be physically active regularly. How is this last aspect done in a city like Amsterdam? A city that is growing like other cities, and where available space is under pressure from urban densification. On balance, this means: more users, less space for play, and more demands on space. At the same time, our freedom of movement within the public domain is being limited, in particular because it is seen and exploited as a source of revenue by new parties. More outdoor cafés, but also wider sidewalks for children? The EU monitor for the ideal city shows that the qualities we are looking for do not lie in a highly dense mega-metropolis, but in a city whose growth is based on the old, but certainly not hackneyed, conviction that a city that is pleasant for children – a playful city of activity – also appeals to adults (adapted freely from Aldo van Eyck).1

'Getting children to be physically active is not an art, because they do it of their own volition. Providing enough suitable space for physical activity and play turns out to be a more difficult task.’

living room

Introduction by pantheon//

Van Beuningenplein You almost invariably see activity and movement on Van Beuningenplein in the Westerpark district of Amsterdam. The functioning of the square can be considered from many perspectives. As a designer, I describe our aim with the square as creating space for children in the city, space to play and move. The design of Van Beuningenplein is based on a multitude of activities, space for all sorts of age groups and target groups, and on the possibilities of use changing throughout the day. 'The design of Van Beuningenplein is based on a multitude of activities, space for all sorts of age groups and target groups, and on the possibilities of use changing throughout the day.’

The original Van Beuningenplein has to be viewed in the context of the 1901 Housing Act, the resulting emergence of social housing, and the ambition of creating healthier living conditions in highly polluted cities. We can also view the ‘playground movement’ and the founding of a ‘playground association’ for Van Beuningenplein in 1908 in this context. In 2008 – exactly 100 years later – plans were drawn up for a car park beneath Van Beuningenplein so that the cars could disappear from the surrounding streets. The extremely dilapidated square came back to life as a ‘living room’ for the neighbourhood. Elger Blitz, founder of Carve

NIKITA HAM & ELGER BLITZ | WORDS FLOOR VAN DER VLIET | LAYOUT

Van Beuningplein, Amsterdam

Abandoning expectations Before I delve into Van Beuningenplein, let me introduce an idea from the American architecture historian Beatriz Colomina. She argues that it is the mass media in particular that shapes our image of what architecture is and should be. The media representation not only sticks as images in our collective memory but also determines our expectations. In the design process for Van Beuningenplein, we freed ourselves from these highly influential expectations for various reasons. One reason was to investigate how an ‘open’ square can offer space for various activities for all ages. The desire for an urban ‘functional’ void that offers space for all sorts of uses is common. In practice, however, such an urban void rarely invites any form of spontaneous activity. Reasons to move are needed. Another motivation for abandoning expectations was prompted by our experiences during an average participation meeting. This confirmed yet again how right Colomina is: the wishes of future users reflect perfectly what the media serves up: football in the city means a so-called Cruyff Court; a playground consists of standard multicoloured pieces of equipment taken from a catalogue. Little imagination is apparent, and this inevitably leads to even more of the same. To convince everybody, existing examples are shown where the anticipated result is only partly achieved. In the design process for Van Beuningenplein, we therefore avoided this by only showing images of possible activities, with the request to express a preference. The positive result was that we could abandon a fixed programmatic classification according to age and users, separated by fences. A

surplus of activities was possible on this small square. Normally, this would not be possible without fundamental compromises. A square to cherish Another source of inspiration is Marc Wigley, an architect and writer from New Zealand who is affiliated with Columbia University in New York. He views the built environment not only as a physical environment – after all, a piece of asphalt doesn’t make a square – but rather as the whole of ideas and images of the physical environment that we have in our minds. The designer plays with these ideas, but in the end it is the users who (re)construct and embrace physical space. I think that it does indeed work like this, and that the users embrace and determine Van Beuningenplein. 'An urban ‘functional’ void rarely invites any form of spontaneous activity’ Children simply like being there, while adults no doubt think of the increased value of their nearby homes. The reasons for the popularity of the square vary and will probably remain unknown to some extent. But the fact is that users, consciously or not, play a crucial role in the good functioning of the design. That is a lucky result, but also one that is difficult to achieve. Legible and allowable At Van Beuningenplein we ignored the conventional playground arrangement. Katherine Masiulanis, an Australian landscape architect, describes the typical arrangement of a playground as follows: “Excellent for adults with too little time, overloaded with information in

Van Beuningplein, Amsterdam

daily life and in search of a space that they can scan and understand easily.”2 We design for children. Although they want it to be unstructured, we certainly did choose for a programmatic arrangement and structure. The power of the design lies in the transitional zones within the programmatic arrangement. Within a clear composition, things can become a lot less clear, even chaotic, at the level of the details. Zones and functions overlap one another and use is determined by the people using them at any given moment. Possible conflicts are factored in and actually contribute to the optimal user qualities. It’s a layout that appeals to children, who attach less importance to a formal arrangement and search for unexpected possibilities. The unconventional layout is intended as an invitation to children, since they are inclined to search for the limits of what is offered to them: what is both possible and acceptable. Are these swings just for toddlers? Is the plane below a bench or a playing surface? Is the stand in the middle a place to play or to sit? Are the edges behind the basketball hoop intended for skating? And if not, can I skate on them? In our experience, children ‘read’ an environment as they play – organizationally, ergonomically and in terms of social acceptability. The notion of ‘perceived affordance’, as described by the American psychologist Donald Norman, aptly describes this interaction between object and (young)user. He writes about the qualities and characteristics of an object or place that is determined by its possible use and the possibility of a person being able to recognize the potential for a more specific use.3

The square’s lack of immediate (functional) legibility might very well negate the usual reserve among adults in determining if something is allowable. Owing to that ambiguity, the unexpected and unforeseen use by children can be more difficult to assess and hence difficult to prevent by adults, who have a more conditioned outlook. ' It’s a layout that appeals to children, who attach less importance to a formal arrangement and search for unexpected possibilities.’

Van Beuningenplein has become a place to learn through experimentation, which is perhaps the biggest possible stimulus to become and stay active. It offers a solution for the limited availability of “play” spaces in the city by offering space for many forms on activity on a relatively modest site.//

SOURCES The Cultural and Creative Cities Monitor (2017). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. (accessed 1 August 2017) 2 How to Grow a Playspace: Development and Design 1st Edition Katherine Masiulanis (Editor), Elizabeth Cummins (Editor) 3 Norman, D. A. (1999). Affordance, Conventions and Design. Interactions 6(3) (pp.38-43). Den Haag: ACM Press. 1

NB: This text is a part of an article previously published in The Active City by Urhahn | stedenbouw & strategie Commissioned by Gemeente Amsterdam, Edition: 2017.

Extreme living: a world tour

VALDEMARR VAN STAVEREN | WORDS EVELINE SCHEFFEL | LAYOUT

Mongolian Steppe, Mongolian plateau On the Mongolian plateau indigenous tribes have lived a nomadic lifestyle for centuries. They do this to find water and fresh grass for their livestock. Finding these resources is of the utmost importance as the high altitude and fluctuating temperatures make agriculture almost impossible on the plateau. With water bodies slowly disappearing on the Mongolian steppes (an average surface shrinkage of 30%), this nomadic tradition with its demanding lifestyle may be on the brink of completely disappearing.

Ojmjakon Ojmjakom is the coldest permanently inhabited area of the Northern hemisphere with an average January temperature of -50°C. The record for the lowest temperature set in the northern hemisphere is the cause for a hefty conflict, with Ojmjakom (-67.7 °C) and neighbouring village Verchojansk (-67.8 °C) both competing for the title. Verchojansk is the current freezing champion but Omjakom, with unofficial measurements going as far down as -81.2 °C would be the winner if based on public vote. While the winner may still be debated on for many years, it may be clear that the approx. 2000 inhabitants of the two villages deserve respect for living in those harsh conditions.

The Outback, Australia Surprisingly enough, villages in the Australian Outback are not as rare as you might think, although most of them do not reach a population of over 5000. With most of the action happening on the Australian coastal lines, villages in the outback are mostly cut off. You may wonder how the people living there cope with the heat (temperatures can hit over 50 °C), isolation and boredom. During peak temperatures, most ‘’Outbackers’’ hide inside with the air-conditioning turned all the way up. To prevent cabin fever, most people living in the Outback work seven days a week to keep themselves busy. If you thought living in those conditions would make you less productive, then you were wrong. SOURCES

Sinking Jakarta With polar caps melting due to climate change, sea levels will be rising tremendously in the coming years. Most people will not have to fear wet feet, but unfortunately that is not the case for the inhabitants of Indonesia. Numerous small coastal villages have already found the need to relocate, thereby leaving behind ghost towns waiting to be swallowed by the sea. While this is saddening in its own right, it is nothing compared to the threat presented to the city of Jakarta. With a rich history of flooding and storm damage, both of which will worsen with rising sea levels, it is just a matter of time before large parts of the city will be uninhabitable. If interventions are not made in the near future, the fate of Jakarta and its nearly 10 million inhabitants might be the same as that of the other small coastal villages.

Isortoq The Greenlandic Inuit, a historic Greenlandic ethnicity who in the past lived a primarily hunter-gatherer life, make up 89% of the entire population of Greenland. The roots of the town of Isortoq can be traced back to an early Inuit settlement, located on an island near the southern coast of Greenland. Even though modern boats can easily reach the settlement nowadays and there is even a helipad now, you cannot help wondering how the past inhabitants of the island managed to survive on such a remote location. It turns out the island was a popular beaching location for resting seals. Seeing that hunting seal was the primary survival method for the Inuit ancestors makes the choice of settlement a lot more understandable..//

The New York Times. (z.d.). Jakarta is sinking so fast, it could end up underwater [Foto]. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/21/world/ asia/jakarta-sinking-climate.html?mtrref=www.google.com&gwh=0BD30EEFEA6899615DA5B1D5D1DEE5BC&gwt=regi&assetType=REGIWALL 2 Paley, M. (2014, 28 augustus). On the Rocks [Foto]. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photo-of-the-day/photo/isortoq-greenland-snow-aerial 3 The Mongolian Steppe. (2016, 12 juni). [Foto]. https://www.kempinski.com/en/hotels/blog/explore-the-isolated-mongolian-steppe/ 4 Ojmjakon village in the east of Russia, is the coldest city in the world. The temperature in winter drops to -67°. (2016, 19 januari). [Foto]. https://twitter.com/World/status/689436247345860608/photo/1 5 Purdy, C. (z.d.). The Australian Outback [Foto]. https://www.pinterest.cl/pin/487866572106136529/ 1

Living in a Dutch student home In Delft, most of the students live in a student home near the campus. Most of these houses seem the same as in the rest of the world. And of course, there are many similarities. For example, all of these students went living on their own for the very first time and learned a lot during the process. Nevertheless, there could also be big differences between individual student houses. In this interview I asked various people from three different student homes about the living experience in student houses and about how it is living on their own for the first time. To start with, I spoke with an all-girls house of five, of which some study in Rotterdam whilst others study in Delft (referred to as house A). I also spoke to an all-boys house of six all studying in Delft with a mixture of all different ages and studies (referred to as house B). Last but not least I interviewed a large mixed house of both boys and girls with varying ages, studies and student associations (referred to as house C).

just redecorated What is the best activity you have done with your student home? House A : Once in a while we have a small holiday with each other, which is amazing! Recently, we started weaving and knitting to pass the time, enabling us to be a little creative but it also made us feel a bit like a grandmother in the process. House B : House weekend. Because nobody has anything to do other than chilling with your roommates, so you are just alone with eachother for four days, getting to know eachother even better. And everyone is very relaxed because nobody has anything important to do. House C : Dinner parties are the most fun, especially when one half of the house cooks for the other and official invitations and a dress code are included. Other than that, being together in the kitchen all day, making the table and last but not least half of your housemates who will be K.O. before desert makes it onto the table.

Waterloostraat 171 What is something you’ve learned while living in your student house? House B : That it is way less drama living without girls than living with them. Besides that definitely cooking, we also learned a lot of stupid stuff like how much shots I can have and that we should never play “Stef stuntpiloot” ever again. House C : I mostly learned to cook dinner for a large group of people. House C : Taking care of yourself and others. But also to deal with many different kinds of people, especially in such a large household. And “spiesen”, a lot of stupid stuff.

ENOUGH RECIPES?

EVELINE SCHEFFEL | WORDS & LAYOUT

Christmas dinner 2020 A funny story House B : No comment. Although we can tell you it had something to do with a sailing boat in Friesland and someone, not saying who, being very “sick”. House C : We have a lot of funny stories, thinking about this, ten come to mind. However none of these are actually funny to outsiders. That’s what makes being here together also a home: you share those memories and inside jokes, the rest of the world will never fully understand them. House C : If I have to mention something: At the start of quarantine, like all other houses, we made up all kinds of activities to keep us busy. Two housemates found a really cheap tandem on “Marktplaats” and decided to cycle it home from the sales location, 35 kilometers away. Twelve hours and two flat tires later, they were back home and we’ve had a lot of fun with that bike ever since

Chilling

spies!

What do you miss about your parents house? House A : For many of us, moving away from our parents house has been quite easy and exciting. This is also because of the fact that our home is very warm and welcoming, so often friends and family come and visit. House B : Besides my parents and my pets, not a lot. However, we did notice that when you go back to your parents’ house now, that they really like you being there and that you do not have to do anything at all. House C : My parents and my younger sister. Well actually not at all. What I miss the most is that my laundry is done for me and that I do not have to help with cleaning the house. //

Dinner time What makes your house a home? House A : Due to COVID, we have been at home most of the time, which gave us the opportunity to pay more attention to the interior and make the place really our own. Tuesday evening we have a special night for the five of us, but because there’s not so much to do at the moment we eat together almost every day! All of us do completely different studies: Law, Medicine, Design and Architecture, which is great for the dynamics in the house. House C : The people. With an “instemming”, you are chosen because you fit in well with the existing occupants of the house. As a result, your housemates will quickly feel like family, as you see them when you are either grumpy or cheerful and they know very quickly where you come from. The people who live there make it a home, but while the feeling of a home remains, the people can change a lot over time. House C : The feeling of comfort. It’s more of a feeling than it is logic. The longer you live here, the more things you “own” because you, for example, have DIYed or bought them yourselves. You can see your own influence, for example in the painted walls. When changing so much of the interior of the house you notice that the interior does not necessarily matter. You have forgotten how it used to be and it still feels like home although it has changed over the years.

chaos

Building a

giant

Zalmhaventoren

MAX VAN DER WAAL | PHOTOS & WORDS EVELINE SCHEFFEL | LAYOUT

As of October 2018, a new giant is slowly climbing to claim its place on the Rotterdam skyline. The Zalmhaven Tower, designed by Cees van Dam & Partners, is not like any new building in the Rotterdam city centre. With the realization of the project, several impressive records are broken. The Zalmhaven Tower, with a height of no less than 215 meters, will not only be the tallest building in the Benelux, but also the tallest prefab tower in the world. These dimensions alone make it easy for the tower to leave its mark among the high-rise buildings in “Rotjeknor”. But how do they manage to complete such a project in just three and a half years?

During construction, builders are faced with numerous factors. To start with, the city centre offers very little space for construction work, so the logistics to and from the construction site in the narrow streets are quite a challenge. Then there are the very strict noise restrictions to take into account as well as the fact that the work has to be done on a limited budget. In order to be able to build in the most efficient and environmentally-friendly way possible, BAM and partners decided to take an innovative approach. The tower consists entirely of prefabricated elements and there are loads of these: 770 complete facade elements, 1,140 interior walls, 400 balconies and 250 stairs and landings. Never before has construction on this scale been carried out using only prefabricated elements. The decision to use those was not fixed from the start of the project. Initially, the tower was to be built in the traditional manner with cast-in-place concrete beams, columns, floors and walls. In December 2019, Jacco van Dijk, CEO of Byldis in Magazine De Stedenbouw said: “However, due to the busy inner-city location, tight construction site and short lead time, precast concrete elements were chosen. We turned the building design into a prefabricated system, focusing not only on the engineering and structural calculations, but also on the feasibility of the project. All precast concrete parts are divided into manageable, repetitive elements, which can be easily transported, lifted and assembled.” Using only prefabricated materials requires both adjustments to the overall construction process and extremely precise timing. Due to the enormous number of prefabricated elements, it is virtually impossible to store the individual parts in warehouses or hangars. Therefore the parts are transported directly from the factory to the construction site for assembly.

Another issue in the construction of the Zalmhaven Tower is assembly, but innovative solutions have also been devised for this. The most special aspect of the construction is and remains the “hijsloods”, an enormous hoisting shed that manages to climb several meters upwards every week with the help of two 40-tonne overhead cranes. When the prefabricated elements arrive at the construction site by truck, they are lifted directly from the truck to the “hijsloods”. Then they are taken over by the assembly crane, which puts them in the right place. The use of the “hijsloods” not only eliminates the need for additional cranes outside the shed, but also provides a conditioned working environment. The builders are always high and dry, literally. As a result, work can continue as usual, even in rain, wind, snow and hail, without loss of time. The combination of prefabricated elements and comfortable working conditions means that up to six months of construction time can be saved. After completion of the residential tower, the “hijsloods” is dismantled again, after which it can be completely disassembled on the ground. A second innovative application in the construction of the Zalmhaven Tower is the use of Mitsubishi’s “MEEgroeilifts”. The “MEEgroeilift” already gets installed in the first few weeks, when the building only counts a few storeys. As the building builds up layer by layer, the elevator grows with the building. Every three newly built layers, the elevator gets extended to the newest storey. This way workers can travel to the right floor using an internal elevator. When the building has reached its top, the construction elevator is converted into a regular elevator, so that the elevator can be used even after construction is finished. It never ceases to amaze me what feats the builders come up with to bring this gigantic project to a successful conclusion. The combination of innovative design and an innovative construction method is something to be proud of. Perhaps this Rotterdam giant will set the new standard for building methods. Let’s hope that that will be the Zalmhaven Tower’s next achievement. // SOURCES BAM Bouw en Techniek BV. (2018). De Zalmhaven, een logistieke uitdaging. BAM bouwt De Zalmhaven. https://www.bambouwtdezalmhaven.nl/bouwwerkzaamheden/een-logistieke-uitdaging 2 Bradley, W. (2020, 17 september). Zalmhaven, Rotterdam | Hoogste woontoren ter wereld wordt prefab gebouwd. Magazine De Stedenbouw. https://www.stedenbouw.nl/artikel/zalmhavenrotterdam-hoogste-woontoren-ter-wereld-wordtprefab-gebouwd/ 3 MEEgroeilift. (2020, 28 oktober). Mitsubishi Liften. https://www.mitsubishi-liften.nl/liften/meegroeilift/ 1

The Peasant’s Wedding (1567) by Pieter Bruegel5

The Milkmaid (1658) by Johannes Vermeer4

The

art of living

The Potato Eaters (1885) by Vincent van Gogh6

Shugar Shack (1917) by Ernie Barnes2 Freedom from Want (1943) by N. Rockwell3

Over the centuries, painters have used their immediate surroundings as sources of inspiration. Paintings that depict everyday scenes in which ordinary people are engaged in common activities fall within a category of art called “genre painting”. A typical genre painting can be of a group of people dancing in a bar, a boy playing with his toys, a family having dinner or anything in between. All these different scenes relate to “home” and give the viewer an interesting look into the way of living during the times these paintings were made. In this article we will take a look at five genre paintings from different periods.

CHARLOTTE MEIJSSEN | WORDS FLOOR VAN DER VLIET | LAYOUT

Bruegel’s The Peasant Wedding (1567) The style of genre painting reached the Netherlands in the 16th century through the paintings of Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Bruegel became most famous for painting various scenes from the lives of peasants, so much so that he became known as “Peasant-Bruegel”. In this particular painting Bruegel depicted a typical peasant wedding. The bride is very easily recognised, sitting in front of the green wall hanging wearing a crown. The groom, however, is less recognisable. There has been some discussion about the identity of the groom in this painting. He could be the man in the red cap serving the food or the man on the left pouring the beer, which would fit contemporary customs best. However, some people argue that the groom is the man in the centre wearing a black coat and others suggest the groom is not even included at all. The painting is currently on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Vermeer’s The Milkmaid (1658) In the 17th century, genre painting flourished in the Netherlands through the works of Gerard ter Borch, Johannes Vermeer, Pieter de Hooch and many others. A very well-known piece of genre art from that period is The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer. In fact, despite what the title of this piece suggests, the woman in the painting is not a proper milkmaid. Milkmades milk cows. This maid, given her plain clothing and pressed cap, is a kitchen maid. Vermeer’s contemporaries often depicted maids in their paintings as subjects of male desire and painted them in a slightly suggestive manner. The Milkmaid, however, is a unique example in which a simple maid is being represented in a more dignified way. Still, some suggestive symbols can be found in the painting. In the lower right corner of the painting, a Delft tile depicting Cupid can be found, which could symbolize particular desires the maid might have. Another symbol is the foot warmer in the lower right corner, which could symbolize the burning passion a woman might have for her husband. The painting is currently on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and is considered as one of the museum’s top attractions. Van Gogh’s The Potato Eaters (1885) The 19th and 20th centuries were characterized by the emergence of socialism. Along came more regard for the fate and well-being of the working class. A famous piece of genre art from this period is The Potato Eaters by Vincent van Gogh. Van Gogh wanted to depict a typical peasant family having a typical peasant meal. Trying to sell this narrative, he decided to use ugly models. Van Gogh himself was known to have an appreciation for the peasant lifestyle. He was not particularly interested in money or the finer things in life. The peasant family eating a potato dinner reflects this feeling. The Dutch word for potato, “aardappel”, literally translates into “earth apple” and symbolizes a more simple, down-to-earth lifestyle. The painting is currently on display at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Rockwell’s Freedom from Want (1943) The style of genre art was most popular in the 17th century, but can still be found when we move into modern age. An example of this is the painting Freedom from Want by the American painter Norman Rockwell. The painting is also known as I’ll Be Home For Christmas and is part of the Four Freedoms series, inspired by the similarly named 1941 State of the Union Address by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Each one pictured in the painting is either a Rockwell’s family member or a friend. They were all photographed individually and painted into the dinner scene. The scene has since then become an iconic representation of the Thanksgiving holiday in America. Freedom from Want was the third painting in The Four Freedoms series. All four paintings were published in The Saturday Evening Post. The term “Freedom from Want” translates to a nation in which everyone has the means to live a happy and healthy life, never wanting anything more. The other three freedoms from the series were Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship and Freedom from Fear. The painting is currently on display at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Massachusetts. Barnes’ Sugar Shack (1971) Moving even further into the 20th century, there are still examples of genre art to be found. An interesting artist is former professional football player Ernie Barnes. In 1971 he created the painting The Sugar Shack. He painted it from a childhood memory of sneaking into the Durham Armory, a club that hosted segregated dances. In a 2008 interview, Barnes recalls the memory as being “the first time my innocence met with the sins of dance.” The painting takes the viewer on a journey to a vibrant looking black dancing club. Depicted are dancing characters with exaggerated and elongated bodies, representing the rhythm of the music and the sensuality of the movements. The original painting played an important role in the rising of a “Black Romantic” genre of art. The painting gained popularity after soul singer Marvin Gaye caught a glimpse of it in the back of Barnes’ car and requested to use it as the cover of his 1976 album I Want You. Barnes created a second version of the painting for this purpose. The original version is currently owned by Eddie Murphy and on display at his home in California.//

SOURCES Ayubu, K. S. (2011, 7 februari). The History of Sugar Shack. blackartblog.blackartdepot.com. https://blackartblog.blackartdepot.com/ ethnic-artists/ernie-barnes/sugar-shack-history.html 2 Easter, M. (2019, 28 augustus). Ernie Barnes’ ‘Sugar Shack’: Why museum-goers line up to see ex-NFL player’s painting. Los Angeles Times. 3 Freedom from Want. (2020, 30 december). In Wikipedia. https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_from_Want 4 The Milkmaid (Vermeer). (2021, 3 maart). In Wikipedia. https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Milkmaid_(Vermeer) 5 The Peasant Wedding. (2021, 17 februari). In Wikipedia. https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Peasant_Wedding 6 The Potato Eaters. (2021, 11 februari). In Wikipedia. https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Potato_Eaters 1

The future of student homes

A zoom into TietgenKollegiet Let’s imagine a building where you can walk around without finding dead hallways or locked doors. When you enter your room and look out of one window, you find beautiful nature. When you look out of another window, you will see a green public space where people meet, chat and eat together. You have found the perfect balance between privacy and community.

This is not simply every student’s dream house. It is Tietgenkollegiet. Designed by architects Lundgaard & Tranberg in 2006, it provides homes for more than 300 students. This building, situated in Copenhagen, puts the concept of a “student home” in a completely new perspective. Instead of the old, concrete blocks students are usually housed in, this complex is fresh and modern. What can we learn from this design with regard to future student housing?

LIZ HOOGEVEEN | WORDS & LAYOUT FLOOR VAN DER VLIET | LAYOUT

Image 1: Drawing of circular concept

First of all, we need to understand why you would design such an extraordinary building for students. The answer is simple: students are the future of a city. Seen from a local government’s perspective, students must be encouraged to stay in their cities, even after they have graduated. They will pay taxes and boost the economy while bringing knowledge. This means that students are the key to a forward-looking city. How do you achieve this? Three concepts are crucial. The main concept behind many buildings in Copenhagen is social interaction. Students should not be studying all day alone in their rooms. Instead, they need peers for social interaction and this should be steered by the architecture. Therefore, “high density, low rise” is a principle that applies to numerous designs. High density is needed to facilitate space for all the people in the city; low rise creates a sense of individual identity. As a result, students will not feel like a number. Another concept is the consideration of eye level within the design. When everything has been designed from eye level, instead of from a bird’s-eye view, this will show that the architects and urban designers have taken seriously what people will actually feel and experience while walking through Copenhagen. This principle will create a better living environment for people who are exploring the city. The third concept that is often used is all about convenience. In the TV programme “3 op reis”, a Danish architect called Mattias explains: “It doesn’t matter if a building is ugly, as long as the building is convenient for its users.” (2020)

Image 2: Public space where habitants meet

The idea of social interaction has been completely integrated in Tietgenkollegiet. The whole design is focused on meeting your neighbours and taking part in communal activities, such as cooking, together. As early as in the first sketches that were made, this concept was clear (image 1). The circular shape of the building allows the residents to see what is happening in the central public space, so they can join whenever they want. This shape is not only useful, but has a symbolic meaning as well: it is an endless connection. As such, it represents the connection and social interaction between the habitants. Moreover, the green space in the middle is not the only public space available. Facilities like a music studio and a bicycle mechanic workshop are located in the building as well. In addition, you will find home cinemas and reading rooms. A feeling of community is strengthened by those public facilities. Lundgaard & Tranberg state: “In our practice, architecture is always about atmosphere. It is about listening to a place, finding the tone and the energy that flows through everything. That is where it begins.”(Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter, 2020). That is exactly what you will experience when walking through this extraordinary complex. In brief, we need to rethink the way we build student homes. Students are the future of our cities, yet most of them live in houses of the past. By designing homes that facilitate social interaction, like was done in Tietgenkollegiet, living environments that are comfortable and ready for the future can be created.//

SOURCES 3 op reis (2020). 3 op reis 15-11-2020. Retrieved from: https://tvblik.nl/3-op-reis/15-november-2020 Appleton, R. (2019, 27 oktober). The Six Most Iconic Dormitories in Copenhagen. Retrieved from: https://www.scandinaviastandard.com/the-sixmost-iconic-dormitories-in-copenhagen/ 3 ArchDaily (2014, 7 februari). Tietgen Dormitory/Lundgaard & Tranberg architects. Retrieved from: https://www.archdaily.com/474237/tietgendormitory-lundgaard-and-tranberg-architects 4 Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter (2020). Tietgen Dormitory. Retrieved from: https://www.ltarkitekter.dk/tietgen-en-0 5 Tietgenkollegiet (z.d.). The Building. Retrieved from: http://tietgenkollegiet.dk/en/the-building/ 1 2

Desk No longer together with hundreds or thousands of students on campus, but alone at your desk. COVID has challenged many of us to completely transform our working environments and to make the most of our desks. On this page 25 architecture students’ desks are portrayed. These are the places from behind which we now all draw, study, type and gaze into the distance…// January 2021

KATI HARTMAN | WORDS EVELINE SCHEFFEL | LAYOUT

NIKITA HAM | WORDS FLOOR VAN DER VLIET | LAYOUT

HUMANS OF BK CITY Since the Christmas holidays we have not been allowed back on campus due to the COVID restrictions in the Netherlands. We were wondering what was happening in our beloved faculty. Who better to ask than the people who are still strolling around there, keeping an eye on things until the students may return? We went there and talked to them from, of course, a safe distance. We asked them where in the faculty they felt most at home.

Soesila Balgobiend “At the faculty I supervise the facility services and cleaning. I have been doing this for six years at the TU Delft on behalf of GOM. Our activities are momentarily not the same as usual because a lot of offices aren’t being used. That gives us the time to work on periodic things we normally don’t get to doing, like cleaning underneath the toilet seats, attacking stains in the carpets and on the windowsills. We had temporary workers but I had to call those off for the time being. They are quite expensive and there is not enough work to keep them busy too. As soon as things get back to normal I’ll ask them to come back. I have to say that I am happy that we can still come here to do our jobs. Staying at home is not for me. When I came back from Suriname this year and I had to self-quarantine, I counted the days until I could go back to the university. I have never taken a day off just to stay at home. I have to go out and do something fun, that’s why this situation is upsetting me. I hope we will be able to breathe a little again in April or May. I could not name one specific place here where in the faculty I feel most ‘at home’. It’s being with my colleagues, being busy, that gives me this feeling.”

Mark Brand “I have been working here at facility services for five years. Before this, I worked at the TU Delft Library but it was very quiet there. Too quiet to my taste. I’m somebody who has to have something on his hands all the time, therefore this period is quite hard on me. Normally my work consists of an endless number of phone calls with people who cannot open their locker or need a television screen. That’s what I love, responding ad hoc to abrupt situations. I should not complain because I can still go here, I know that. But Soesila and I would both rather work a bit harder. During the summer break we prepared the faculty for the return of students and visitors. We put arrows up and made walking routes on the ground. At the moment our main job at logistics is to regulate the entrance of the building. We have to know precisely who goes in and out, we are very strict about this. You can only enter the faculty through us. The logistics desk is my office. It’s always a chaotic mess of people who come and go. Still, of all the places in the faculty it’s there that I feel most at home.”//

GET TO VISIT// Google Art and Culture Link: Artsandculture.google.com Using this medium you can view art pieces in full detail. Famous art pieces like Vermeer’s The Milkmaid and Van Gogh’s The Potato Eaters are included. Museum Walk Throughs in Google Street View A great number of museums are included in Google Street View, meaning you can visit the museum without leaving your home. Museums like the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and The Anne Frank House are included.

CHARLOTTE MEIJSSEN | WORDS FLOOR VAN DER VLIET | LAYOUT

TO FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM// @ama_studio Instagram account of the British architect interviewed in the issue

@janrothuizen Instagram account of the Dutch illustrator Jan Rothuizen

@alyssakapitointeriors Instragram account focussed on interior design

@sashabikoff Instagram account focussed on interior design

Art Centre Delft Visit the sculpture garden in the nature reserve of Midden-Delfland

@ofis_architects Architecture Instagram account

Online Tour of the Prinsenhof’s exhibition Zilver @steffenwelscharchitects Architecture Instagram account

TO READ// How to Construct Rietveld Furniture by Peter Drijver and Johannes Niemeijer (2001)

@chairs Instagram account fully devoted to designer chairs

Thuis by Pieter Hoexum (2019) Radical Architecture of the Future by Beatrice Galilee (2021)

TO WATCH// The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes on Netflix (20172018)

@rogierroeters Artist

@newyorkercartoons Cartoon account from New Yorker Magazine

Away We Go (2009) The Berlage Keynotes on The Berlage’s Youtube channel

@matterofline Artist who makes sensual line drawings

@vintageracefiets Every Architecture student needs one of these

INSPIRED