..Hello Hamburg..

When modelling a long time ago I lived in Hamburg several times and always with Carmen. We are still friends and with schoolholidays we had the chance to visit Hamburg. It became a wonderful reunion trip, where we not only met with Carmen and her daughter but also with architect and former colleague Anke and her son.

 

Anke made a program for all of us to see the IBA, Intenationale Bau Ausstellung with the first algae apartment building BIQ. One facade is made of algae, which provides energy but also gives shadow through the algae that grow faster when there is more sun.

 

Very known in Hambrug is Planten und Blomen, a great park and playgarden from the seventies with matching plastic mountains. The children loved it.

 

Carmen took us to the neighbourhood Karolinenviertel where we walked through the Marktstrasse, an upcoming neighbourhood where you can find green courtyards, cool shops, have stroll in the fleamarket and eat a nice cake somewhere.

..3D cube brooch..

Get optically lost in my new handembroidered 3d cube brooch. Now available at CASASderooij.

..Going to the market..

 

1. Ever since I was a student I love the work of Belgian architect Marie-José van Hee now she made this market building in Ghent together with Robbrecht and Daem architects.  I can not wait to go and visit.

2. Going to market can be wearing this lovely dress by Missoni.

..Playing Architect..

Roman and his friend Faye went to the NAI this weekend to play architect. Building helicopterplatforms with Lego and iglo houses with big foam blocks. This place is just wonderful. The artmarket OBJECT was also in the NAI these days but not to visit with two small children.

.. Green Checkers..

Sienna Miller in green block dress  2013 spring collection by Louis Vuitton 
Green tile wall by Ceracasa

..Wearing a building..

 

Some sun in autumn so wearing my architecture skirt by Desigual today

.. Brazil inside out..

 

I have fond memories of a trip to Brazil. Next to the hospitality of its people it was one month long full of nature, cities, modern architecture and history. The two architectural highlights were the Casa de Canoas of Oscar Niemeyer in Rio de Janeiro and all the work of Lina Bo Bardi. What I like especially is the relation of houses inside to outside.

 

 From inside out ..left The glass house by Lina Bo Bardi right Casa de Canoas by Oscar Niemeyer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recently I came across the work of Brazilian architect  Marcio Kogan. His office MK27 made a beachhouse and house V4 where inside is outside. Probably not for the Dutch climate, but these are my dream houses.

images through Archdaily

 

.. Printmania ..

 

Printsuit in gold pattern by Prada
Printbuilding in gold concrete at La Confluence Lyon by ECDM architects

 

..Fabra i Coats..

Back again to work after a nice and sunny holiday in Barcelona and surroundings.

My friend Raquel had a nice surprise for us, her boyfriend Sergi works in developing the old thread and fabric factory Fabra i Coats in the neighbourhood Sant Andreu. Constructed in 1890 walking there feels like being in a movie set from another era.

Most amazing is the re-use of furniture from the factory, it gives it this 50’s atmosphere but with a twist. We had a lot of fun getting a tour. There will be opening an exhibition space soon, so if you want less tourists, Fabra i Coats fabric and neighbourhood are great to visit.

..Postcards from the urban edge..

I like postcards books. I never sent a card from them because I keep looking at them. One of my favorite one is People and Possessions, a tale through photos that show peoples possessions outside their home from allover the world. It is fascinating being able to see what people posses and maybe it is away for me to know what I don't have to posses. Which is always too much.

These cards of pavements in Barcelona, the city that posses the most beautiful graphic pavements in the world. I think I bought them at the Museu d'Historia de Barcelona.

In better times my office was kind enough to take us to Moscow for an excursion. I had no idea what to think of going there but it was an experience, from the rough repetitive housing, the strong architecture, to diamonds like the Melnikov house ( which we were lucky enough to be able to see from inside) or the Moscow metro. The stations are like ballrooms it almost seems surreal.
In the postcardbook I bought you can see them so well, because it is also a very congested metro.

..Weekend in the park..

There is no better thing then to enjoy the weekend outdoors. It is almost school holiday for our boys which means class barbecue’s and get together’s . One of them was at the Mullerpier here in Rotterdam. On the far end of the pier there is a vacant building lot that probably will take some years to get build in this crisis.

The people of the building blocks made a garden of it called ‘Tuin aan de Maas’, a vegetable garden, play and relax garden. With the sun finally sneaking out from under the clouds what a joy,with fresh picked strawberry smoothies and SUPER straws everybody is happy.

..Pomegranate Olympic..

Temporary Olympic shooting venue London by Magma architecture

Pomegranate dress by Stella McCartney

.. At home in London..

My friends in London have a classic house with a modern extension done by architect Dalriva. Their interior is amazing. Its modern white and greys but with pops of orange and a very seventies vintage feel to it. I love the big rubber foot sculpture they have in their kitchen. In their company Harrow and Green they sell tea towels that fit right in with their style, like this milk and sugar tea towel hanging at the stove. I wish I had a house like this, I am glad they let me stay with them sometimes.

..BUSY..

It is BUSY at work, but didn't want to keep you from my van Nelle factory Alphabet

..Wrap up..

Dress by Givenchy spring 2012 Ready To Wear collection
Basque Culinary Center by basque VAUMM arquitectos

..Casa never never land..

photo by Miguel de Guzman

When I saw this maquette some years ago of the casa in never never land by Andres Jaque Arquitectos I was fascinated. I like the easy accessible approach of showing the house in maquette. It is even more fun to see the house built.

..A10..

A10, new European architecture.

This magazine really shows architecture from all over Europe.

It’s layout and content has a freshness to it that I enjoy a lot.

..My Own Pattern House..

Who wouldn’t want their own house, especially if they have these great patterns.

 From top left tot down right

The classic Maison de Verre – architect Pierre Chareau

Green speckled 72 Maximillianstr. - Brandt + Simon architekten ( who also have a nice website)

House like garden - Marc Koehler architects

Lightmos showroom, not a house but I like it anyway  - ArchitectKidd

..Shocking....Pink..

With two sons there is not much pink colours around the house,  but I love shocking pink. Last summer we visited friends in Madrid and went to the Thyssen Bornemisza museum. We saw the Mario Testino exhibition – todo o nada, which was very vibrant with big glossy photo’s. I had to take the museum guide, available in different languages/colours and I am keeping at home for inspiration. The abstract architectural drawing in shocking pink is gorgeous, it doesn't matter I don't speak Portuguese.

There are probably not many clients who want a pink building, but I like these examples.
The Mexican architect  Luis Barragan was a master of colours and used pink often for his buildings. The entrance          of the Museum of Moving Image by Leeser architecture and these pink houses on Bleeckerstreet in New York.