Duke Albada; Architectural & Interior design

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A House in Tokyo

Designing from a distance, after thoroughly researching Japan, concentrating on Tokyo a metaphor of Tokyo was constructed (in this case a sound compilation) which formed the lead for the design of a small lot house in urban Tokyo for two western people.

The life in Tokyo is based on a strict structure consisting out of different tones. Not always explicit in their presence but for ever repeating/ the old and the new life find their origin here. In the upper layers are the excesses visible, grow from the structure and break through the grid. In between the Japanese find peace and tranquility in the temples, the garden and the calligraphy.

Newtown Mission, South Sydney

Finalist for a South Sydney architectural/art competition that changed the visually incoherent & physically deteriorating church forecourt -combined with the adjacent pavement- into a pleasant and inviting area. The brief also stated the incorporation of a bible text, new signage, design of an art work in pavers and upgrading of the side lane.

- the forecourt will act like water washing upon a shore -

Part of the forecourt, in a wave shape, is lifted up to form an easily accessible platform. The remainder of the forecourt incorporates an artwork made of polished pavers with inlaid glass 'pebbles', they resemble water drops and create a sparkling animated light motion on the pavement. A bible text is inscribed in a flowing line on the platform.

A corrugated iron fence in the somber lane was removed and replaced with uplifting & stimulating wire mesh screens. The placement of the screens echoes the setting of the windows in the church wall, some elements containing an interlaced motif that originates from the pattern in the church windows. A consistent line in the shape of a wave, visually links the screens & interlaced motif together while continuing the wave theme.

Gallery front

Front for a gallery that exhibits paintings and small artifacts. The shop front is recessed one meter from the pavement, 10 meter wide and 6 meter high, with an entrance to the gallery and an entrance to the upstairs flat.

The passerby and the visitor are guided via a wave like surface of half transparent glass. Interrupted by display units that also function as peek holes into the gallery. The waves in the glass become less wild as they come near the entrance of the upstairs flat.

3D exhibition space

A bench combined with a 'bell glass' is lowered in the ground. The passer by can only see the silhouette of the exhibited piece through the opaque top. But when stepped down and seated the visitor can turn the "bell glass" around and view the work from all sides.

FAI European Head office (Amsterdam)

Refurbishing of the European head office of FAI, the office is located in an old office building and will stay there for another 3 years before moving to a permanent location. The offices are small and the budged is Low. The brief stated a few themes:

-directors office; success

-office/administration; efficiency & representation

-telemarketing room; enthusiasm.

We managed to create a unique style for each office according to the themes and created links so the overall feeling of the office was that of a sequence. Via reusing some of the existing furniture, (painting the table tops for the telemarketing room and some drawers). Selecting some cheaper furniture that has a short life span and some pieces that will easily fit in a new office, we staid well in the budged.

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