DUTCH DESIGN INSPO
The Dean family visited The Netherlands this summer. A new place, a new culture and a new perspective - it's all so good for the soul.
We really didn't know a whole lot about the country and the destination was chosen to visit some of our old friends who've made the move to be full time residents of Amsterdam Zuid. Wow, I fell in love.
It is one of my biggest delights to visit a new place. The first thing I notice anywhere I visit is the architecture and how the buildings change the entire feel and look of the landscape they are placed within. The Netherlands was more beautiful than I imagined, with traditional Dutch Thatch, canal houses, windmills and their newer friend the wind turbine all framed by this country’s delightful waterways in this gorgeous, green landscape.
INSPIRATION #1: THE ENDLESS WATERWAYS
I hadn't even considered how beautiful it could be to see man made waterways so naturally interspersed into a landscape. In the UK, sure we have canals, rivers, lakes, the sea but you don't see these every day, and they are not interspersed in the midst of fields, villages, towns and cities in quite the same way. The constant presence of water woven into the bones of the country somehow evokes a huge sense of calm. There is a mesmerising quality to a simple canal surrounded by reeds and enjoyed by wildlife.
Luckily I have a place to experiment with these waterways from a design perspective, I'm working on my own place at the moment and I need some of this water in my life. I've already started drawing up the idea of having simple shallow water pools and channels on a small scale on our courtyard. Having felt the glory of water in a landscape I simply need to make it happen!
INSPIRATION #2: THE NEMO SCIENCE MUSEUM
This copper-clad, boat-like structure sitting surrounded by Amsterdam’s canals is just exemplary and is why beautiful and challenging architecture will forever have its place. I love the curve of the building in a world of straight lines, and the illusion that it simply sailed in and docked there. It has the most fabulous rooftop restaurant and exhibition space offering extraordinary glimpses of this fabulous city.
The interior of this building doesn't disappoint either. Not only does it entertain the children for hours, it also provides plenty of punch for the grown ups too. Mezzanines, split levels and viewing galleries offering sightlines from one space to another are a fabulous way to encourage exploration.
This idea of galleries, mezzanines and double height spaces can be seen in many of the proposals we put forward. Alas sometimes the sensible 'but we loose a bedroom' argument takes over in the UK where we obsessively want an extra guest bedroom for that once a year visit. But with this new first hand experience of just how wonderful they are, here is hoping 2023 is when I have a client say, “stuff it, the guests can have the sofa-bed in the snug and we will have our viewing gallery every day!”
The gorgeous views from the Strandpaviljoen Hargen An Zee. Photo from Strandpaviljoen Website.
INSPIRATION #3: THE BEACH PAVILLIONS
Did you know The Netherlands has an awesome beach culture? Nope, me neither!
We were pleasantly surprised to find on every delightful beach an equally delightful 'Strandpaviljoen'. These are the most welcoming, simple, wood clad beach buildings. Containing fab decor, serving delicious food and in the evening playing live music you can hear from your dinner table whilst the sun sets. Ibiza eat your heart out, I'm sticking with Hargen An Zee!
They're unassuming and are clearly built to work all year round with a variety of areas, on the beach eating, covered terraces and plenty of indoor spaces with 360° windows spanning the coastline. They are easy to imagine being as full on a crisp winter’s day as they were during the heatwave we experienced. Chilled vibes, decor that’s not too cliche 'seaside' and views to live for.
We need more of this all-year-round, outdoor thinking to allow us to experience indoor meets outdoor in our climate. This has never been more front of mind for me following my trip. My time away was such an escape from the norm and enabled me to switch off, just for a while. With rest and relaxation, the need to create and imagine resurfaces and I returned feeling ready for new challenges.
Let's see how much of the Dutch year-round outdoor thinking and links to our landscapes make it in the Studio Dean designs this year. I loved it so much I want to share it, so lets hope it pours out!
If you are feeling as inspired as we are, reach out to us today! We can't wait to discuss your own travel-infused spaces.
Until next time,
