kruh autumn 2022: K.Klaasse and A.Gebrian - report from the lecture

Kamiel graduated from the renowned Dutch university TU Delft in 1995 and two years later founded the office NL Architects together with Walter van Dijk, Pieter Bannenberg, and Mark Linnemann. Today, the studio has an international composition and enjoys a reputation as one of the most innovative offices in the country.
The lecture took place at CAMP in Prague, which I personally had not visited before, but I can say with a clear heart that my first visit was not my last. The lecture was initiated by architecture promoter Adam Gebrian, who was later joined by Kamiel. I would describe this evening more as a conversation than a lecture. Many questions were posed by the audience, to which Kamiel responded. He spoke, for example, about the beginnings of the entire architectural studio and what Dutch architecture looks like. It was humorous that he could never manage to answer in one sentence, but that is probably a common condition among all of us (even those future) architects. During the evening, I got my hands on the portfolio of NL Architects, where I was immediately struck by their logo. Completely simple, yet precise. I think if A. Gebrian hadn't intervened in the conversation, there would have been plenty of questions and perhaps even less time for a presentation of completed projects.
The first project that Kamiel discussed is called Kleiburg. It is a renovation of a panel housing complex in Amsterdam. The goal was to revitalize the entire area, to breathe life into it. This was achieved by demolishing some hexagonal panel buildings, which were replaced by a complex of smaller buildings, offering more privacy. Another issue was many small passages, which were replaced by larger and "safer" ones. The entire interior was remodeled for more comfortable living.
The second project he talked about was probably my favorite of all. A station that has only one function - heat transfer. However, NL Architects succeeded in transforming this boring object into something remarkable. The building is called WOS 8. A black box with one window. Well, actually two windows if we count the one in the roof through which rainwater drains. On the outside, we can find attractions that are not available at any other station - a basketball hoop and a climbing wall. So from a boring object that would likely have ended up as a wall for graffiti artists, it became an architectural gem.
The third building I would like to mention is the Gym Hall in Utrecht. The interesting feature of this project is the absence of windows. Why, you ask? I was surprised by the answer too - supposedly so that people from outside wouldn't look at the semi-naked gymnasts. However, the windows are cleverly replaced by the sponge-like shape of the building, which allows sunlight to penetrate, so artificial light is not needed during the day.
Overall, I really enjoyed the lecture, but I might have preferred if he had covered more projects than just three. I know time was short, but still.
NL Architects is a Dutch architectural office founded in 1997. Its founders - Pieter Bannenberg, Walter van Dijk, Marek Linnemann, and Kamiel Klaase - are former classmates who studied at the technical university in Delft, so they collaborated on projects long before founding their own studio. NL Architects is one of the most innovative architectural studios, successfully combining thoughtful concepts with humor. This is demonstrated, for example, by the Carstadt project, which attracted attention while they were still students. It innovatively combined a department store and parking garages in the historic center of Amsterdam.
On December 1, 2022, I attended their lecture at CAMP in Prague, where one of its founders - the mentioned Kamiel Klaase - was invited. Throughout the lecture, he gave a very composed impression and encouraged the audience to feel free to interrupt him and ask him anything.
He reminisced about his beginnings in the architectural studio. In 1997, the NIA agency held an exhibition to which young aspiring architects were invited, and they needed a logo. NL is the abbreviation for the Netherlands, which they made, putting a dot in front of it. Klaase claims that in their designs they try to modify something as little as necessary. He considers this simple logo design to be one of their best creations ever.
He also mentioned how the role of the architect varies in different countries. While in the Netherlands an architect is just one of many "pieces" that make up a project, and their work tends to be more at a conceptual level, in Germany architects are responsible for both technical and structural designs. In the Netherlands, this work is outsourced to other firms, so we can say that architects do not have as much control over the entire project.
The project that caught my attention was the renovation of the GYM HALL in Utrecht near Amsterdam. The investor requested that the building have no windows. He argued that it has many disadvantages. This part of Utrecht, where the gym is located, experienced significant vandalism. Young boys used to throw stones and break windows. He further claimed that through the windows there would be a view into the gym at half-naked bodies (:D) and he did not want that. A big challenge for the architects, but they took it on in their own way. After all, it is inconceivable for a building to lack natural light.
What they did was "carve out" and push forward the top part of the facade, smoothly connecting it to the lower part. This created space for skylights around the building, allowing pleasant soft light to enter the interior.
The conclusion of the lecture was in a relaxed spirit. Adam Gebrian invited the audience (who had the courage) to a small informal gathering with Kamiel Klaase after the lecture. I accepted the invitation, and in a small circle, we chatted a bit more about architecture and other ordinary things.