team A’s proposal- ''The Sketch'' 

all images courtesy of organisation in design

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Maarten Baas, as he himself says, unconsciously seeks the clash of beauty and ugliness. That’s not the main reason why SDK Vastgoed asked the internationally renowned designer to work with them, but it certainly helps with the challenge of creating a new and striking building in one of the Netherlands’ ugliest places. Maarten Baas in collaboration with SDK vastgoed and other four Dutch architects from an aken architecten, reimagines Netherlands' the most ''ugliest'' places with a fresh look to the city.

Especially, for many years ‘Marconi Plaza’ has been a thorn in the eye of administrators and residents in the city of Eindhoven. In fact, the site has the dubious honour of holding fourth place in the top ten of the Netherlands’ ugliest locations. Now it has been renamed De Bakermat -‘birthplace’ or ‘breeding ground’- and Baas, on behalf of SDK, is creating an iconic building for living, working and shopping.

team B’s ‘'House-UP!’'

Maarten Baas collaborated with two teams, each comprising four Dutch and foreign architects from Van Aken Architecten. Baas says that  “What fascinates me about the people in this profession is how they emphasise the practicality of each aspect. Architects tackle things in a fairly rational and practical way, which is often diametrically opposed to my more intuitive approach.” But he admits that he has driven the architects taking part in this challenge to extremes. “I rather like the idea of a battle.

''Two teams who compete with each other and who aren’t allowed to apply their usual methods to the task at hand. All of us, both the architects and myself, were working far outside our comfort zones, which generated a nice degree of tension. And this is reflected in the result.”

During the Dutch Design Week, will be held between the dates of 17 - 25 October- the two teams will each be unveiling their building design. “I have encouraged these young architects to think and work in a freer, more playful way. I have been coaching both teams and guiding the creative process, getting people to kick around archetypes and suchlike. Once everyone was on this wavelength, we started to get some really great results.” added Baas. 

The two designs will be judged by the public, visitors to the Dutch Design Week and a jury with members from relevant fields. Trend forecaster Lidewij Edelkoort will chair the expert jury, which will also comprise architect Jelle Houben, architect Douwe Boonstra, industrial designer Ruud Nordt and SDK director Ferdinand Gremmen.

Members of the public can cast their vote via this website www.debakermatvan.nl and at De Kazerne, the venue where the two designs are being exhibited. The winning design will then be announced during the presentation of the Dirk Roosenburg Award on Friday 23 October.

> via organisationindesign.com