Saturday 30 June 2012

The University District, Amsterdam





On our last day in Amsterdam we stayed around the University area as we did not have that much time before going to the airport.




As usual we started with Oudezijds Voorburgwal





interesting van





looking through my photographs made me realise that I keep photographing this canal





it's always nice listening to this clock chiming the hour




the bridge that leads to Staalstraat.




First stop, Droog. Droog, a concept in design that was founded in 1993 by Gijs Bakker and Renny Ramakers, defined a new approach to design by mixing materials and interacting with the user.  It adopted a minimalist aesthetic but also deployed humour.




'The criteria are flexible and shaped by developments in product culture and the designers' own initiatives'.




'The only constant is that the concept has validity today; that its worked out along clear-cut, compelling lines; and that product usability is a must. Within this framework, literally anything goes'.









Grauman's 85 bulb chandelier, an inspired example of lateral thinking is now regarded as an iconic object  of the 1990s. One cannot but smile at the verve with which the designer transformed an everyday object like the standard light bulb into a spectacular chandelier. Ramakers said that it is 'a comment on many things, plenitude, over-consumption, the pretensions that preset the profession'.







bookcase








wallpaper





a closer look





This chest of drawers, constructed by Tejo Remy, which consists of  half a dozen wooden drawers tied into a bundle with thick cord, attracted so much attention in 1992, that Ramakers then editor-in-chief of design magazine Industrial Ontwerpen, was convinced that she had discovered  'a clear break from the past', a genuinely new approach to design.




Still on Staalstraat, the bridge over the Broenburgwal




the house on the right looks like it's about to fall down



the second Puccini chocolate shop, this one on Staalstraat




I resisted temptation this time and did not go in





I really like this area - it is very beautiful and peaceful, yet in the heart of the city





a houseboat




not a bad place for soaking up the sun




so peaceful and so bright and clear




we have come full circle and have reached Damstraat again




a closer look at those windows




there are four of these benches on the first bridge on Damstraat: this is  the only place in the city where I have seen them




a last look at Nieuwmarkt in the distance




another beautifully arranged shop window




here is the other window




the recently opened sweet and chocolate shop.




And I just had to finish with pictures of the canals








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