Presentation Design Academy
Once again we were asked this year, together with Petra Janssen of Studio Boot, to design the interior for the Design Academy. Last year we had already decided to use the same concept. We were therefore able to re-use the construction system and extend it where necessary. The choice not to design and make everything from scratch, but to re-use the existing elements helps to emphasize that the focus is not on the design of the layout but rather on the contents of the exhibition, which has been our focus right from the start. Furthermore, it means that materials are not thrown away and energy is not wasted, which is normal practice, but not in the world of exhibitions.
As there were almost one and a half times the number of projects and we wanted to add a complete shop and restaurant to the building we had purchased, it was still a challenge. With the exception of one single element, it all went according to plan. Such a plan is actually a schematic with a separate solution per student, piece of work and function so an enormous amount of information must be collected and exchanged. During such a process we have the tendency to complain about the inadequate organisation (which was actually better this year), but if you consider that a program is being presented at this level, then really it can only be very positive. The students’ work was overwhelmingly good, as always, which makes it all the more fun to work on the presentation.
Controversy
A while ago I was asked by Stichting Bushalte van Rietveld, following a series of Eindhoven creatives, to do something with this heritage object. The aim of the foundation is to maintain the object and the attention it receives. We devised some extreme and boisterous stunts – it was at a time that a shovel-machinist regularly took to the streets to express his unhappiness. We thought that our proposal, to wrap-up the little house and write on it: “Due to fear of terrorist attacks, Eindhoven city council had decided to protect it’s most valuable heritage”, a rather modest proposal, but unfortunately the city council found this too rebellious. The good thing is that this rejection was published in the newspaper and generated controversy (just a little), which ultimately resulted in the desired attention.
The bus-stop is now surrounded by a construction of heavy beams displaying the text “hier staat het huisje van Rietveld” (“here stands the little Rietveld house”). What had become such a familiar landmark, and was therefore no longer noticed, is now wrapped-up and thus draws attention. What is normally there? All things considered, we have achieved our initial goals and the wooden block also adds to the streetscape.
Proud/come full circle
Friday 24 October. It’s an exciting day, this afternoon we will finally sign the provisional purchase agreement. After a cry for help we were granted a meting with the alderman for economic affairs, during which it became completely unclear why the permit and exemption procedure had ground to a halt. It was decided that this process would be accelerated. We wanted to sign the documents during Dutch Design Week. Subsequently, the city council worked extremely hard and the documents rolled out of the printer just in time for mayor Rob van Gijzel to present to us at the press conference, where there was hardly any press.
It is also a day full of mixed emotions. Joke van der Heijden called this morning to tell us that Martin (Visser) had passed away. We have known Martin and Joke for a long time. Eighteen years ago Jeanine and I took a teapot (part of her exam work) to Martin and Joke. They had bought something from Jeanine and were as proud as punch. Rarely has a meeting like this ever made such an impression on us. Martin asked questions, was interested, let us do the talking and told us very little. When we left he knew a lot more about us but we were none the wiser. I think that this is a familiar story. Martin was genuinely interested in the world around him and able to understand it in a way that you rarely experience. This quality made him one of the greatest designers and collectors of our time. He has always been an example to me.
Joke did not call to tell us that Martin had passed away, Martin was an example to me from a distance, but to ask whether I would design and make his coffin. Browsing through the “coffin catalogues” resulted in nothing but despair. So she asked me to design and make the coffin and have it ready Monday morning at half past eleven.
I immediately thought of a beautiful batch of old oak, weathered grey and worn. The weathered surface on the outside, but neatly planed and sanded on the inside and even given a touch of colour, pink I thought. Joke thought orange, but found pink perhaps even better. We ultimately chose the pink from the Rietveld cabinets in their home. Designing a coffin is one thing, but who was going to make it in one weekend? I am not only proud that I was given this task, but also that Joost succeeded in making it on Saturday and Sunday.
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