My project, which many of you know as a ‘green project’, ‘garden documentation’ or ‘data story’, has now been given a name and has been published: “The Story of Geuzenhof”.
The documentation was presented yesterday on the occasion of the launch of the new collection platform of the Nieuwe Instituut, the Museum of Architecture, Design and Digital Culture in Rotterdam.
It comprises four articles in Dutch, German and English, is based on material from 45 interviews and presents over 550 visual media – including photos, drawings, animations and films. Among them are historical documents from more than 35 public and private archives as well as my own photographs taken over the past 15 years.
Link to Dutch, German and English articles:
Het verhaal van Geuzenhof
Die Geschichte des Geuzenhof
The Story of Geuzenhof
New collection platform for the National Collection of Dutch Architecture and Urban Planning
Five years ago, the Nieuwe Instituut asked me to develop an information structure for a new collection platform. My vision was a combination of a story and filter machinethat would make it possible to visualise networks. When browsing, this non-linear structure should reveal surprising connections. Moreover, ‘stories’ should be the connecting force between the data units, because they are what ultimately inspire us.
Thanks to a great team, a platform was created that is a powerful tool for communicating and appreciating complexity. It shows interdisciplinary connections, emphasises the nuances and thus sets an example against the trend towards simple black and white solutions.
To show how complex stories can be realised on the platform, I started my own research project The Story of Geuzenhof two years ago, about a social housing complex in Amsterdam with an intriguing historical relevance.
The Story of Geuzenhof
The question: How can we build (and live) green and social at the same time? is the starting point of my documentation, which starts with the urbanisation of the Netherlands at the end of the 19th century. Subsequently, I focus on the development of the Geuzenhof housing complex, which spans more than a century.
On a large scale, the story is about the productive use of our landscape, urban expansion, a social-green building experiment, the preservation of green and architectural heritage and the active participation of residents – in the past, the present and the future.
In the leading roles: building contractor Huibert van Saane, urban planners Cornelis van Eesteren and Jakoba Mulder, architects Jacob Dunnebier and Johannes F. Berghoef, garden architect Mien Ruys and industrial designer Piet Zwart. The story reveals how they – then young pioneers in their discipline – realised this social-green vision, which became a groundbreaking project in their careers.
On a smaller scale, the documentation tells the story of the residents for whom the Geuzenhof became and still is a home…
About Fred, Kees, Hilda, Marian, Diana and Elise, who were born and grew up here.
About Josua, Lea and Louise, among the first residents from whom the Geuzenhof was forcibly ripped away as a home.
About Els, David, Harro, Gé, Koen, Ton, Ed, Phia and Hagen, who have lived here over the years or still do, and who in their own way have made and continue to make the social and green heritage of Geuzenhof sustainable. They are all part of: The Story of Geuzenhof.
Save the date
From February 2025, I will present an exhibition at ARCAM (Amsterdam Centre for Architecture) with the theme The people of Geuzenhof. Here I zoom in on the creative minds of the Geuzenhof as well as the people who are involved in preserving their architectural and green heritage in one way or another. The opening is on 6 February, 18:00.
Follow the progress of my project on Instagram.
