03/05 2023
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Category Publications
09 2023
Day of Architecture in Utopia
On Sunday 10 September, Utopia Library and Academy for Performing Arts in Aalst will open its doors to visitors during the Day of Architecture in Flanders.
Organized by the Flemish Architecture Institute, Day of Architecture is just one of many events taking place during the Festival of Architecture from 5 – 10 September which aims to highlight architectural culture with numerous activities throughout Flanders and Brussels. On 10 September, the Day of Architecture exceptionally coincides with Heritage Day, and visitors of Utopia will get to experience firsthand how contemporary architecture and heritage meet.
©Delfino Sisto Legnani e Marco Cappelletti
Visitors can explore Utopia by themselves between 14.00-17.00 (no registration needed), or join an exclusive lecture by Vincent Panhuysen. The lecture will take place in the auditorium at 15:00, followed by a guided tour of the building. Space is limited, so make sure to register in advance.
Practical information
Utopia Library and Academy for Performing Arts, Aalst
10 September
14.00 – 17.00 – walk in, free visit – no registration needed
15.00 – lecture by Vincent Panhuysen and a guided tour – due to limited capacity, a free registration is required here
Reflections – Renewing Paleis Het Loo
We are pleased to introduce “Reflections,” published by Paleis Het Loo in collaboration with nai010 publishers and KAAN Architecten.
“Reflections,” also available in Dutch as “Spiegelingen,” chronicles the process of renovating and extending Paleis Het Loo. Once a Dutch royal hunting palace, it has since evolved into one of the Netherlands’ most esteemed and frequently visited museums.
Through a collection of striking photographs and informative accounts from key contributors to the project, the book highlights the history of the palace and the new design by KAAN Architecten, illustrating how these elements harmoniously converge. “Reflections” offers a fascinating account of a successful transformation, where the past, present, and future seamlessly reinforce each other.
Now available for preorder!
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August 2023
editors: Anton Kos, Peter Bakkum, Pien Harms, Michel van Maarseveen, Dikkie Scipio
authors: Floris Alkemade, Peter Bakkum, Pien Harms, Anton Kos, Michel van Maarseveen, Koen Ottenheym, Wim Pijbes, Dikkie Scipio
design: Koehorst in ‘t Veld
photography: Sebastian van Damme, Marnix Klooster, Simon Menges,Dominique Panhuysen, Bouke Wolbrink
publisher: nai010 publishers, Rotterdam
in collaboration with: Museum Paleis Het Loo
hardcover | 22 x 28 cm | 176 pages | illustrated (130 full color)
First part of Piratininga Waterfront project inaugurated
The Parque Orla Piratininga (POP), a joint revitalisation project of the Niteroi lagoon by KAAN Architecten, Phytorestore, and Embya, inaugurated its first completed section.
In the last week’s ceremony, Mayor Axel Grael recognised the park’s innovation and its important role in Niterói’s plan for a sustainable and inclusive future. The inaugurated section is named Recanto Carlos Boechat in honour of the former councillor and regional administrator of the Oceanic Region, who played a crucial role in engaging with the community and was instrumental in ensuring the successful implementation of the park.
POP project aims at a long-term improvement of Niterói’s Piratininga Lagoon. It includes extensive water-filtering gardens, an overarching network of pedestrian and bike paths, lookouts, squares, recreation areas, and an eco-cultural centre focused on environmental education. Explore our design for the Eco-museum!
It is currently the largest project in Brazil using Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and has already won the Latam Smart City Awards in the Sustainable Urban Development and Mobility category. More recently, it won the Sustainable Cities Award for the best environmental project in the country. Learn more about the project here!
Featured image courtesy of WRI Brazil
A royal visit to the KMSKA
During their state visit to Belgium, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, accompanied by Belgian King Filip and Queen Mathilde, visited our Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
On behalf of our design team, they were greeted by Dikkie Scipio, and as part of their tour, they made a special stop at the iconic Madonna by Fouquet. More information on their visit can be found here.
© Sanne de Block, KMSKA
© Sanne de Block, KMSKA
© Sanne de Block, KMSKA
© Sanne de Block, KMSKA
Photographs by Sanne de Block. Courtesy of KMSKA.
‘The New Together’ at Platform Architecture Festival in Venice
As contributors to ‘The New Together exhibition’, we are joining the PLATFORM Architecture Festival in Venice from June 23-26, 2023. at the Scuola Grande di Misericordia.
The New Together Exhibition emerges as an active platform, gathering projects that embody a new era and offer solutions for the transition. ”Metamorphosis is the closest image to indicate a phase of profound transformation that is challenging our lifestyles, the tools and languages with which we represent them, and the visions with which we imagine a different future” claim the exhibition’s curators Luca Molinari and Simona Finessi.
Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
The exhibition showcases a collection of 140 projects developed worldwide in the past three years, spanning various scales and promoting social interaction. Our Amsterdam Courthouse is one such project encouraging encounters, dialogues, and shared experiences within the judicial and wider city context. Managing architect Marco Lanna joins the Platform Architecture Festival to present the project on 24 June.
The New Together Exhibition is held from May 20 to July 30 at the Scuola Grande di Misericordia in Venice. More information here.
Open Office Day at De Bank
On Saturday, June 24, we will be hosting an Open Office Day as part of Rotterdam Architecture Month.
Our office is located in the heart of Rotterdam, in the former premises of De Nederlandsche Bank. Join us between 13.30 and 17.00 to delve into the fascinating history of this mid-century landmark and learn more about our work and projects.
Additional information is available here.
A year in PORTRAITS
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of publishing our first monograph, PORTRAITS, we are hosting a special presentation of the book in Zürich in association with Park Books and ETH Zürich.
Nearly a year ago, we celebrated the launch of PORTRAITS, a significant publication that offers a unique perspective on fifteen of our major built works to date. These selected projects were portrayed as distinct characters with distinctive physiognomies, yet they belong to the same family and share similar features, hence the book’s title.
Beyond being a project overview, publishing PORTRAITS was a culmination of a research process aimed at interpreting a complex genealogy that reveals the 15 buildings not as autonomous entities but as parts of a shared vision.
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of our first monograph, we are hosting a special presentation of the book in Zürich in association with our publisher Park Books and our friends at the gta institute from ETH Zürich. Join us on 21 June at 19:00 for an engaging evening with the book editors and special guests, followed by an interactive Q&A session and celebratory drinks.
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Wed, 21 June 2023; 19.00
Never Stop Reading (Spiegelgasse 18, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland)
Speakers:
Alice Colombo (KAAN Architecten)
Kees Kaan (KAAN Architecten, TU Delft)
Tom Avermaete (gta institute, ETH Zürich)
Entry is free. Due to high interest and limited capacity we kindly ask to register your attendance at press@kaanarchitecten.com
Dikkie Scipio at ‘Finding New Freedoms’ panel in Venice
In anticipation of the opening of the Venice Biennale of Architecture, a panel titled ‘Finding New Freedoms’ will be held on May 18th at Palazzo Contarini Polignac. This panel is part of the multifaceted communication initiative called Berührungspunkte.
The panel aligns with the Biennale’s theme of ‘change,’ which is emphasized by this year’s curator, Lesley Lokko, as a means of creating a collective and relevant future. During this event, four architects will briefly share their perspectives on this question and present their visions for the future based on their own practices.
Joining the panel are Dikkie Scipio (KAAN Architecten), Robert Winkel (Mei architects and planners), Frederik Jacobs (CONIX RDBM Architects), and Ron Bakker (PLP Architecture). Together, they will explore the provocative question of whether we can define new freedoms and how we can attain them.
We invite you to join us on Thursday, May 18th at 09.30 am at Palazzo Contarini Polignac in Venice. To secure your attendance, please register for free here.
Featured image courtesy of beruehrungspunkte.de
The grand opening of Museum Paleis Het Loo
Following a grand opening ceremony in the presence of His Majesty the King on 21 April, Paleis Het Loo is now finally open for visitors.
Last Friday evening, we marked the opening of this special project with an unforgettable show featuring mesmerizing projections, live music, dance, and an array of lights.
Jorrit Lousberg/Light at Work Photography
As the guest of honour, His Majesty the King visited the extension before the show, pictured below with Dikkie Scipio, Michel van Maarseveen, Pien Harms, and Gerdi Verbeet.
Frank van Beek
Images courtesy of Paleis Het Loo.
Celebrating a MINUTES milestone with a special treat
We are thrilled to celebrate the second anniversary of our acclaimed short film series, MINUTES. These films have allowed us to delve deeper into the connection between architecture and film, and to showcase our projects in a unique and exciting way. To mark this special occasion, we are sharing the twelfth film in the series – ‘On an Immortal Being’.
Shot in the stunning Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, this film is part of a larger body of work that explores the narrative possibilities of architecture and film through a captivating vampire tale.
Directed by Jaime Levinas and created in collaboration with a talented team of artists, including Tina Makharadze, Ruben Hamelink, Nadia de Vries, and Noah Chevan, this film is a testament to the power of creative collaboration and experimentation. Watch the film on our MINUTES platform
MINUTES has received critical acclaim for its unique approach to exploring the intersection of architecture and film. Since its launch two years ago, the series has gained a significant following and has been featured in various film festivals and architecture events worldwide. Each short film in the series has been carefully crafted to showcase the beauty and complexity of the built environment in a new and captivating way.
From the film by Romain Loiseau & Tristan Soreau – To Become one
“Film and architecture have an almost uncanny bond with each other”, claims Brendan Cormier, senior curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, noting that “it is somewhat surprising that until now, films that focus exclusively on the representation of architecture remain a relatively niche pursuit.”
From the film by From Form – Await
In his essay ‘Why are there so few films about architecture?’ Cormier marks MINUTES as a milestone on a joint historical timeline of architecture and cinema. He writes: “By commissioning these films, KAAN Architecten is doing a wonderful service for architecture culture in general. It gives space for new experiments with the portrayal of architecture on film while showing valuable ways to enrich our documentation of architecture for future generations to experience.”
As the MINUTES series continues to grow and evolve, we look forward to seeing what new stories and perspectives it will bring to the world of architecture and film.
From the film by Benita Vlok – Crafted
Visit MINUTES website to discover more information about directors, films and architectural projects.
Film credits:
Featuring: Tina Makharadze
Written and directed by: Jaime Levinas
Director of Photography: Ruben Hamelink
Line Producer: Sara Halbertsma
Creative Producer: Inge de Leeuw
Editing: Andrew Aaronson
Original music and Sound design: Noah Chevan
Words by: Nadia de Vries
Production Designer: Rosie Stapel
Setdresser: Lorien Mouyal
Propsrunner Anne van Soest
Props assistants: Freya Filarski, Anjelica Belgrave
Special props: Jos Crezee
With thanks to: Opera Ballet Flanders, Jacobs Interieur NV te Bree, ’s Zomers Bloemen Rotterdam, Antiquariaat Looijestein, Diana van de Vossenberg
Jaime Levinas is an Argentinean filmmaker based in Rotterdam. He graduated from Brooklyn College as a Fulbright grantee and Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds fellow. His short films Midnight Coffee (2020) and PINPIN(2021) have been selected for festivals such as Clermont-Ferrand, BAFICI, IFFR, Maryland and others.
