Loose Threads 2019

I guarantee that you will find something to enjoy in this miscellany of Dutch details.

Timmerhuis

Rem does like his triple height threshold spaces…

Het Schip

The phone booth - walls have ears…

Accessible Parking

Maybe I’ve been too relaxed about it…?

Expanded Metal Lath

Architects: please stop using EML as cladding

Shut Up

‘I think they’re away.’ ‘ How do you know?’

New frontier

Houthaven’s ferry terminus is another bit of Dutch diagram building

NDSM housing

Well, it’s all either silly or just a bit cheap and brutal.

De Ceuvel

One of the nicest places I sat in Amsterdam, having a quiet elderflower soda.

Fake Fear

Why anyone would put themselves through Fake Fear is beyond me.

Strijp-S housing

The best tower at Strijp-S plus its berry-laden tree.

Strijp-R relics

The old conduit snaking through Strijp-R is quirky in a good way.

Strijp-R housing

Just rows and rows of very decent, very nicely detailed and built suburban homes. English architects can dream.

Strijp-R neighbours

Lovely older homes in an Arts and Crafts idiom are good neighbours to Strijp-R.

Katendracht Rotterdam

Enjoying these two ladies working hard.

Fenix

The Fenix Food Factory is Rotterdam’s Borough Market. It has dressed its former concrete building informally…

Katendrecht

…in contrast to the mega-addition for the homes for the Masters of the Universe next door.

Paper Clip housing

This affordable housing project’s plan form was based on an unfolded paper clip and caused a few waves…

Rem fail

This dance school in Den Haag by Rem was - ahem - a little unkempt?

God is here...

… in the detail - a handrail concludes in Den Haag.

Almshouses

This Den Haag courtyard is breathtaking, and surrounded by almshouses. The outside is somewhat stark with very few windows.

The 80s called...

…and they want their office block back! This PoMo Den Haag salt cellar is still abandoned, despite a plan to revive it as a hotel.

Huis Van Europe

Fond memories of our trade club…

Huis Van Europe 2

…and check out that bi-fold front door!

Do you speak Driveloper?

Empire State of Mind? Now why does that seem topical?

Fried Sprouts

I don’t tweet about food. Here’s the exception.

Cadix

White tiles and green grout. It works.

Cadix fail

Why is it that there is always an agent’s name on the worst buildings in town?

Antwerp

This city unfolds through its characterful and variegated streets…

Antwerp 2

… where this slice sits a few down from the previous one.

PUBLIC REALM 2

We’ve all had a chat about public realm. Antwerp seems to like it epic - this is their riverside fringe moonscape!

Arrival

Antwerp gets full marks for its train station. Majestic.

Leiden

A stained glass artwork celebrating the production of newspapers in Leiden’s warmly refurbished Cloth Hall museum.

Deco embrace

What’s not to like about cyclists emerging through two deco beauties?

Streetscape

One for Jonny Anstead - a skinny Leiden street which still manages to store bikes.

Almshouses 2

Leiden’s almshouses are many and various - this little pocket park is a semi private oasis…

Almshouses 3

… where bike storage is still relevant for the older residents. Hoorah. That’ll be me.

Narrow

What’s the minimum dimension for a house frontage? 3.5m centre to centre?

Concertgebouw

Heard the NYO USA in this embracing Amsterdam venue last week, having sung here (with the Philharmonia Chorus and the ECYO) in 1992. We sang Ode to Joy. Why does everything keep coming back to…