Concept development

On 29th januari 2010 the Ondernemershuis Vaillantlaan in Den Haag, is re-opened, from december 2008 onwards I have worked as projectmanager on the concept and complete redevelopment of the building. The integration of the architecture, interior design and graphics was a complex task but worked out beautifully also we used several local designers and manufacturers.

snow

The light of the snow and the beautiful views of the cityscape make me feel good! Last weekend we stayed in Amsterdam to meet and help some friends and moreover to spend some time together before I am off to Zambia! Today I found this beautiful map about Amsterdam from Jan Rothuizen.

Focus for Change

Like a virus: change is the newest trend that has arrived into my life. Not only I had chosen "change" as my personal theme for 2010 it also turns out to be one of the leading themes for VSO. This mutual theme hopefully brings us both a terrific 2010: which I will spend in Africa, Zambia for 8 months as a town planner volunteer from VSO. The first thing I did was looking up my future home town: Choma in Google maps.

Reuse #69

Topos 69 presents examplary re-use strategies and projects from all over the world, some of them I visited recently: The High Line, NYC (opened last summer), Utopia in Green and Blue: The new urban development Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm, Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park a.o.
It seems a very interesting issue with example projects that are well integrated in the urban fabric.

Open City

On the last day of the International Architecture Biennale at the NAI we visited the exposition. I am very impressed by some plans: The Palestinian Refuge Camps vs Palm Island in Dubai, North American ideological community planning (imagine a village for mormons, retired or pilots!), the example of town planning in Koteba (Addis Ababa), superb pictures of Bas Princen but most of all: The Arsenal of Exclusion/Inclusion; 101 weapons used by designers and developers to open and close the city. This is the alphabet I have in mind to make some day: just have to think about my own distinctive theme!

100%

You don't have to travel far for another inspiring day abroad. Just take the train and in 2 hours you are in Brussels. Les Halles de Schaerbeek is a great renovated building in an interesting area, as are the numerous vintage shops. With the 100% guide we followed parts of interesting walks despite the snowstorm and found great places with delicious crepes and pita's.

Salaam aleikum

We have counted down to 2010 in Egypt! The kitesurfing at KiteJunkies was terrific with 5 out of 7 days with strong, desert winds. Today at the Open City exposition an interesting study on the Gulf of Aqaba was displayed. Do you know that Sharm is the 4th largest airport in Africa? #1 Johannesburg, #2 Cairo, #3 Cape Town, #5 Casablanca.

Ma'ssalamah

Happy Birthday

Today Cat from Stockholm celebrates her birthday. From the moment we met in Melbourne in 2004 we found out that we share the passion for personal gifts. Last few years many personalised presents have been made using the pictures of our life in Australia; flaglines, recipe book, advent calender and this year I have made cocktail sticks.