overheard

September 19, 2009 11:49

I walked to the Keizersgracht for a late breakfast.  As I was enjoying scrambled eggs and tomatoes lightly coated with olive oil I overheard two American guys having a very erudite discussion about Amsterdam.

One of them looked around at the leaning buildings nearby and then the canal only inches away from his table- and unprotected by a guardrail- and said:

"Dude, this place is a city of bad ideas."

Fund

September 18, 2009 11:35

We met on Tuesday with Martijn Oskam of the Netherlands Architecture Fund.  They are located in Rotterdam in the beautiful modernist 'trade center' building- Groothandelsgabouw.



I am amazed to learn that first of all the Dutch ministries give money to fund research projects in architecture, landscape and urban design.  Even more unreal is that about 15 years ago the ministries decided that they were not experts on these topics and decided to form organizations like the Architecture Fund (there are similar ones for artists and other creative professionals).

This organization is then responsible for distributing the grants as they see fit.  They suggest an agenda for grant applicants to study- which often has to do with common problems to solve in the Dutch built environment- better schools, for example, or renovating and reprogramming '70's housing developments.  Applicants can choose these areas of study or propose something altogether different.

Beside the fact that this type of funding is even available at all, the fact that the effort is about 10% bottom down (from the ministries through the Fund) and 90% top up (from the architects who apply for the grants) speaks to the unique Dutch model of governance.

Not to mention their support of arts/culture/built environment.  Projects include efforts to educate the Dutch public on architecture and often create real contributions to the profession by suggesting models of thinking for common problems.  The polder model?

Also, great views of Rotterdam from the 5th floor of the Groothandelsgabouw.

Incubator

September 17, 2009 23:14

Khoi's office is located in an amazing incubator building- a former ship building 'warehouse'.  Apparently inexpensive space is available to creative professionals including artists, woodworkers, musicians, animators, product designers, photographers, skateborders, and yes, architects.



Workspace modules have been built within new steel framed armatures supplied by the City and placed inside the large volume of the building.  All the formerly usable crains, pullies and ship building equipment has been left in place as a reminder of the history of the building.  Sunlight pours in through large windows and even larger skylights.



Beside making space available for the creative industries thriving inside, social spaces abound allowing conversation and collaboration among the residents.  And as I discovered, it is extremely photogenic.