Synopsis
If we see minimalism as a derivative of modernism in art, architecture and music, Jen Alkema is not a minimalist. If, however, minimalism is regarded as a way of thinking shared by numerous cultures throughout the ages, Jen Alkema is a minimalist pur sang. His minimalism goes beyond an economy of language and material; it is a way of perceiving the world, a personal attitude rather than an application of style or method. After receiving his degree at The Academy of Architecture (Amsterdam) and reaching the finals of the prestigious Prix de Rome competition in 1995, Jen Alkema turned his focus to the pure essence of architecture: mass, light, structure, repetition, volume, material. His designs, although austere almost to the point of being chaste, incorporate an innate luxury achieved through the exacting use of materials and attention to detail, a perfection in execution. Paradoxical as it may seem, the creation of this sensuous simplicity demands tremendous skill and discipline.
About the Author
Wim Hanenberg
Wim Hanenberg (1974) lives in Haarlem and specializes in architecture, interior design and exhibition photography for architects, designers and museums.
Alexander van Berge
Alexander van Berge first developed his passion for photography as a teenager growing up in Amsterdam, when he'd spend much of his spare time shooting friends and capturing places and moods using his first camera, a Leica. Fast-forward around thirty years, and his shots of some of the world's most intriguing homes have appeared in magazines and advertising campaigns across the globe. Says Alexander, ‘architecture on its own is always interesting, but architects do tend to insist on perfection when it comes to photography of their work. With interiors, on the other hand, you get the combination of the shape of the rooms and the tastes and personalities of those who live in them – and that's what makes my job so enjoyable.'
Brigitte van der Sande
is an art historian, independent curator and advisor in the Netherlands. She has curated exhibitions on contemporary art, design, architecture and cultural heritage in museums, art institutions and in the public domain, working with an interdisciplinary approach of cultural topics, seeking new connections between different worlds. In the nineties Van der Sande started a continuing research into the representation of war in art, resulting in the exhibitions like ‘Soft Target.
Oscar Riera Ojeda
RIERA OJEDA, OSCAR is an editor and designer based in the US, China, and Argentina. Born in 1966, in Buenos Aires, he moved to the United States in 1990. Since then he has published over two hundred books, assembling a remarkable body of work notable for its thoroughness of content, timeless character, and sophisticated and innovative craftsmanship. Oscar Riera Ojeda's books
have been published by many prestigious publishing houses across the world, including Birkhäuser, Byggförlaget, The Monacelli Press, Gustavo Gili, Thames & Hudson, Rizzoli, Damiani, Page One, ORO editions, Whitney Library of Design, and Taschen. Oscar Riera Ojeda is also the creator of numerous architectural book series, including Ten Houses, Contemporary World Architects, The New American House and The New American Apartment, Architecture in Detail, and Single Building. His work has received many international awards, in-depth reviews, and citations. He is a regular contributor and consultant for several publications in the field.
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