Saturday June 16
Today was the first
day in a week that I've slept in past 7:30am, which was nice. In fact, I slept in more than I meant to but
I probably needed it after my time in Rotterdam. I began my day by walking to the DH Centraal
Station, and on the way got to see some of the important buildings in the city
center, including the Binnenhof, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of
Finance, and Ministry of Health. I was a
total archi-geek when I was at the Ministry of Finance, since the formwork of
the concrete horizontal bands was so great, it really looked like wood, as the
grain left such a wonderful texture that it could be deceptive. It almost looks like painted wood, but it's
clear from the connection details that it is not. I was getting all up in that façade to check
it out, and I think some people were looking at me funny, but I didn't really
care. Then from the station I took the
tram out to Ypenburg - a new residential area between Delft and Den Haag.
The tram stop let out
close to the Netherlands Forensic Institute, so naturally I went to take
pictures of that, since it was a pretty interesting building. And in doing so, I accomplished something
that every good architect must do on a trip, which was get kicked off the
premises. To be fair, the guy was really
nice about it, explaining that not only could I not take photos of the building
(even the exterior), I was also not allowed past the parking lot. It's not like I was trying to sneak around;
it all looked very inviting, and there were no visible signs that said
"verboden" so I just assumed it would be okay. I guess the fact that it's a forensics
building makes the security a bit more imperative. I just explained to him that I didn't speak
Dutch and I was an architect just trying to get some photos. It's always a good excuse, but I mean, it is
true. This is different than the time in
Barcelona where I actually snuck around to some areas I knew were not open to
the public...there they actually chased us out of the building. Nothing so dramatic here, unfortunately.
Next building was the
Lyceum Ypenburg, a secondary school. Use
of color and materiality is pretty great here.
Farther in is the main residential area.
Some areas have a very similar feel to the IJburg or Borneo Sporenburg,
while other areas seem very traditional, and still others are the closest thing
to the American suburban neighborhood that I've found thus far. As I was exploring, right across from MVRDV's
Patio Villas there was an International Circus that had been set up for the
weekend. I got up-close and personal
with two elephants and two camels. So
funny!
The Ypenburg
watervillas were interesting, complete with screaming children running
around. Further down after a block of
residential houses there was a plot of farmland, complete with several goats. I also saw a group of swans and the little
furry baby swans. Those birds are
big. The Waterwijk Ypenburg plot by
MVRDV was different - color is used here in a different but also compelling
way. I finished the trip up around the
Ypenburg center, which has a couple of grocery stores, some restaurants, and
other retail shops. I got a kipburger
kaas (basically a chicken sandwich with cheese) at one of the to-go
restaurants, and then took the tram back to Den Haag proper.
Back in the center
again I got some pictures of the Stadhuis (City Hall) designed by Richard
Meier, and the Dance Theater designed by Koolhaas. I don't know what it is about Richard Meier
buildings, but near each one I've been to is an open plaza where skateboard
punks love to hang out. It was
definitely the same way in Barcelona, and I think also in Rome. Quite strange. I have yet to really appreciate a Richard
Meier building. I just am not impressed
by the New York Five. Speaking of which,
there's also a Michael Graves building near the ministry buildings. It's pretty horrendous.
One cool building in
the shopping area of Den Haag is what they call De Baljurk, designed by
Archipelontwerpers. It's basically just
a façade that is cool, but I really like the layers of transparency done with
varying materials aside from glass. The
screen has an interesting connection too.
I rested for a few minutes at the hotel, and then had my first Albert
Heijn experience (the main Dutch chain of grocery stores). I picked up some breakfast type items
including mini-stroopkoekje, some ginger nut bread, and these delicious cream
puff pastries. I was intending to make
them last until the end of my stay, but already ate about half of them. Tomorrow I have a busy day, so I hope it is
as nice outside as it was today.
No comments:
Post a Comment