Student housing, Delft. Photo: RM
Students in general have little money, spend much of their time in public spaces and are less demanding in terms of comfort. They must, however, be housed, preferably as cheap as possible and in places where they cause the least possible inconvenience to the indigenous population. Continue reading
Photo: RM
My five years old son’s teacher told me that the letter M is by far the best-known letter among toddlers. The reason is not difficult tob e guessed. We all know the symbol, but where does it come from? Continue reading
Opium for the People. Photo: RM
The local branch of the Communist party in Venice is located on a streetcorner. In Italy, other than in most European countries, communism, as well as fascism, has never been completely marginalized. A glance through the window shows that the function of an office is combined with that of a bar, papered with posters of Che Guevara and the like. Outside, the facade of the appropriate red stucco building, an image of Christ applied with a small altar has been put up. Opium of the people! A subtle harassment of the commies by their Catholic landlord? Continue reading
Love Bridge, Rijnhaven Rotterdam. Photo: RM
All over the world people are putting up padlocks on bridges. Where did this start and why? Continue reading
Shell Building, Rotterdam. Phoyto: RM
Is real estate vacancy really such a problem? Continue reading
Uithof, Utrecht. Photo: RM
Architecture sometimes changes our perception of the world around us, not poetically or metaphorically speaking, but in a very mundane, demonstrable way. Our perception is sometimes literally changed. Continue reading
Guillemins staion, Liège. Photo: RM
If the same solution is applied often enough for a particular type of building, a new typology is created. This can take place relatively quickly; comparatively young building types have already instilled a particular archetypal form in our subconscious. Continue reading
WTC, Rotterdam. Office, Deventer. Photos: RM
Like in most “revolutions”, after due time the sense of reality takes over its goals. The initial idealism goes on sale and will be trivialized or pragmatized at best. Modern architecture is no exception. The mirror facade clearly shows the bankruptcy of modernism in architecture in its original form. Continue reading
Christmas decorations, the Netherlands.
It’s Christmas again: the most wonderful time of the year. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by stuffing ourselves with food underneath a decorated spruce. Cozy, sure. But how did we get here? How far has our civilization drifted for our most important holiday to take the form it has taken today? Continue reading
Photos: Rogier Mentink
In southern Europe, partly due to the fast drying, pleasant climate, it is often the habit to hang the laundry out to dry. In urban situations this is done above the street, because of lack of space elsewhere. The line on which the laundry is hung, spans between two pulleys from one window to the neighbors across the street. The effect does have something festive, the drying laundry reminiscent of flags or other party decorations. Continue reading
Living in a Barrel 