Valentijn Kerstens Architectural portfolio +31 6 2002 7779 www.valentijnkerstens.com valentijnkerstens@hotmail.com
Driven by passion for architecture and photography I explore, observe and analyse my surroundings. The spatial expression of a place is what interests me most. Both designing and photographing architecture are a study of light and composition, space and structure. If one desires to design a space, one can only design a structure that defines space. I believe that we - architects - have a task to generate a valuable space, inside and outside the building. I have a desire. A spatial desire for a structure that satisfies to practical functional qualities and still defines a complex space.
CURRICULUM VITEA
EDUCATION
Sep 2009 - Mar 2017
Eindhoven University of Technology September 2009 I started studying architecture, building and planning at the TU/e. In March 2017 I received my diploma in Architecture. My graduation project ‘Learning from architectural photography’ was graded with a 9 and I passed with the distinction Cum Laude. WORK EXPERIENCE
Valentijn Kerstens Date and place of birth: April 18th, 1991 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany) Nationality: Dutch
Lijsterbesstraat 99 5616 LE Eindhoven +316 2002 7779 valentijnkerstens@hotmail.com
May 2017 - Present
Self-employed architectural designer House Adolfse, spatial upgrade and facade renovation. Status: under construction and to be finished by April 2018.
Apr 2017 - May 2017
Christian Kerez AG, Berlin Exposition design for the Chicago Biennial and design assistant for parking garages in Bahrain. The short stay was due to unfortunate developments for both two projects.
Sep 2014 - Jun 2015
Student assistant BAU design studio, Eindhoven Giving guidance to a first years’ design studio at the Eindhoven University of Technology, within the disciplines of building construction, architecture and urbanism.
EX TRACURRICUL AR
L ANGUAGES
Oct 2014 - Oct 2015
Chairman lustrum committee Pusphaira The committee organised multiple festivities for the 10th lustrum of the Eindhoven Students Football Club Pusphaira.
Native in Dutch Academic skills in English Basic knowledge of German
Apr 2014 - Apr 2015
Initiator reVIEW architecture events A series of excursions to visit projects and offices that are just steps away from the TU/e. The aim was to encourage a comfortable talk between students and architects. In collaboration with: Koen van Velsen, Van Aken Architecten, architecten|en|en, Open Architecture Office and Diederendirrix.
Sep 2011 - Oct 2012
Treasurer study trip West Coast USA Organisation of a 15 day architectural study trip for 35 students to San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Primary tasks were managing the finances and organizing activities. OTHER INTERESTS
Football, climbing, salsa, ice skating, nature, traveling, reading, thinking and cooking.
SKILLS
Advanced in model making, photographing and drawing. SOF T WARE
Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk Revit ArchiCAD SketchUp Kerkythea Rhino 3D Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Adobe Muse Microsoft office
MY WORKS
Graduation project, interior view from a physical model on scale 1:33.
LEARNING FROM ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY
In the graduation studio ‘Masterly Apprentice’ I investigated the idea of ‘learning from’ by learning from Swiss architecture and in particular Christian Kerez. Driven by a passion for architectural photography, I explored and analysed his architecture and the value of photography in his work. This triggered me to ask the question: How can I learn from photography as an approach towards architecture?
The structure
Teac h
ing &
Foy
er
Atel
ier
Formation of spaces
The design phase was characterised by a systematic negotiation with the teachings and ideologies of the Swiss architect studied during the research. Working within this newly adopted set of rules, I designed a first years’ design studio for the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio.
offic
es
The project is designed, documented and explained by photographs of the numerous models that have been made throughout the whole design process. This methodic design approach has been used to recognize, establish and present the spatial qualities. One can design structure, but one cannot design space. If one desires to design space, one can only design a structure that defines space. The desire for a valuable space, inside and outside the building, resulted in a structure that satisfies the practical functional quality and still defines a complex space.
Entrance level
First floor
The study room, looking towards the forest. Design model on scale 1:33.
HOUSE ADOLFSE: UPGRADE
The Adolfse family lives happily in the hills of Arnhem and at the border of the forest. Nevertheless, they wish to renovate their 70’s house. The client’s request is twofold. Firstly, the aim is to improve the spatial experience of an existing annex. Two rooms will become one. A study room. In addition, a large window with sliding door will open the space towards the forest. This experience is being enhanced by means of an increased ceiling height - revealing a sight line to the tree tops. The different floor heights respond to the sloping landscape. Secondly, the original house’s facade will be renovated for aesthetic and thermal purposes. Parts of the facades of the original house exist of a single layer of masonry. These parts will be insulated from the outside and finished with a wooden cladding. Status: under construction and to be finished by April 2018.
Renovation and construction work, February 2018.
Traveling pavillion in enfilade formation, from a 1:50 scale model.
Repetition of a generic module
TRAVELING PAVILLION
The single module has been engineered in such way, that it offers various spatial alternatives for the configuration of multiple modules. The generic module measures 10,5×3,5×3,5 m3. These dimensions are based on standardised container measurements in order to allow transportation by means of a regular truck and trailer combination. Moreover, the 3:1:1 ratio means that not only parallel formations can be made, but also multiple perpendicular formations are imaginable. Each variation has specific, and often unique, spatial qualities. One might enjoy exploring the different spatial arrangements. The pavilion may appear as extrovert or as introvert, to be systematic or labyrinthine, and lighter or darker. Whatever pleases the most.
No ‘double’ material
Moving material inside
Cross-laminated timber
Gallery
Core
Courtyard
The floorplan of an enfilade formation, scale 1:100.
Vertical detail, scale 1:10 - roof connection and ceiling elevation.
Horizontal details, scale 1:10 - facade and module connection.
Traveling pavillion, exterior view.
DOOR HANDLE
Within the first week of the design studio ‘Façade and Ornament’, I designed and constructed a door handle for an Amsterdam canal house. The usage of multiple materials forces to design detail - how do these materials meet each other? - and hence generates a feeling of ornamentation. It is not relevant whether a single material looks great or not. Instead, it is the composition of materials that matters. The handle has been made from a slice of stone that was sawn and polished. However, the backside remained rough. This way, a distinction could be made in the experience of opening (pushing) and closing (pulling) the door.
DRAWING ABROAD: PORTO
‘Drawing abroad’ is an intensive, one-week drawing course in the summer. To draw the scenery of Porto was all about its ‘Brilho’, meaning brightness or brilliance. The ingredients to draw with: sharp shadows, bright colors, reflecting water, a clear sky and high contrasts. The different exercises resulted in both quick, sketchy drawings and rather precise drawings. Various drawing techniques and materials have been explored: from regular pencils and fine liners to markers, watercolor and charcoal.
DDW’15: RESEARCH IN MAKING
For the Dutch Design Week 2015 an exhibition has been made, called ‘Research in making’. The exhibition showed the result of a quick exercise that was done by graduation studio ´Masterly Apprentice´. An interior image from Miroslav Sik’s apartment building in Haldenstein has been reconstructed in an actual model - call it a viewing box. To observe and truly understand and even recreate the essence of the space displayed, one has to envision what takes place outside of the frame.
Apartment building Haldenstein (architect: Miroslav Šik) recreated in a model.
DDW’16: GRADUATION PROJECT
My graduation project ‘Learning from architectural photography’ was on display at the Dutch Design Week 2016. Visitors were invited to explore the architecture through the lens of a polaroid camera, similar to how I have been using a photographic approach to explore and develop my own designs. All photos were pinned on a cork board.