One of the main phrases I stole from a friend* who I met in Amsterdam my first summer here is “how reasonable”.
The Dutch are a very pragmatic people. There are many hypotheses as to why, but it is something that has many manifestations, including in everyday design.
Design can make lives better. This isn’t a romantic esoteric yearning, but my rejection of the idea that cheaper and faster is better, that one-size fits all, that money should determine aesthetics, and the idea of a “bottom line”.
Design matters. It speaks to what we value. It can make lives better.
You see humor as well in many of these everyday designs, which I would argue is also a necessity.
Who said a doorknob needs to be round? Why can't it be inspired by seeds or cell growth? Why not share visual humor with those who walk by?
Here are some images of some of everyday design meant to make the quality of life of everyday people better.
How reasonable. How necessary.
A water culture: mobile boat coffee stand, Amsterdam canal boat, and two boats made from plastic fished from the Amsterdam canals (https://plasticwhale.com) .
A biking culture: bike "hats" (with ears that flap when you ride), bike cart with a message, and streetlights for bike size (and yes, she's texting).
Signage: Smoking biking dogs okay (at Rietveld Academie), the (importance of the imperfect) hand painted window signs (http://amsterdamsignpainters.nl), unexpected location of the floor dog poster in NDSM, a clear linear Den Haag bus sign with clearly marked zones.
Food: Seven eggs (they come in different quantities, but I get 7 as the carton is round), the infamous (in my mind) stomper (this one is black) to squoosh your citrus with, national pride for Mondrian in a cake, and Tony's Chocoloney colorful display (full of the loveliest chocolate).
Street life: Textile recycling (https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/living/everyday-essentials/waste-and-recycling/recycling-in-amsterdam) , a sculptural street light over the Ten Kate market area, and some biological street design.
More will be posted as I find. Trains will be coming. The train art is amazing.
Addendum: Here come the trains!!!!
NL, the Dutch train system, includes art on all their trains. Their website simply saids "All trains are equipped with a work of art. Customers have indicated that they greatly appreciate the art in the trains, because it contributes to a pleasant, inspiring travel experience." (https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/facilities/facilities-in-the-train.html)
A "pleasant, inspiring" ride is enough.
Top L to Bottom: Exterior of a Sprinter train, cast bronze door grip, local train never missing a chance to promote Dutch De Stijl artist Piet Mondrian with his boogie woogies, fly pattern on glass (on of my favourites, sorry about the bad picture), and butterfly tables.
Dutch have cars too, but I wouldn't call it a car culture.
Quieter highways: like Boston and many US cities, the Netherlands has installed sound barriers. Unlike the US, how they integrate with the landscape is considered.
OBA
OBA is Amsterdam's library system (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam). The main library is one of my favorite places in Amsterdam, not far from the train station, on a strip of land between the IJ and Oosterdok (the East Dock). It has one of my favorite views of the city, a wonderful collection, and shows off some fun Dutch design. It is a comfortable way to spend an afternoon, perusing art books while watching the boats go by.
Left to right: Glowing white architectural elements, I am guessing to add ambient light in short winter days; a pink carpet, a visual and symbolic gesture to welcome Amsterdam's Pride event; the children's area, with red designer chair by Gaetano Pesce, overstuffed and comfortable, and movable translucent walls so the space can change with the libraries needs.
Copenhagen Examples
On my way to the grocery store, I came across this playground at a local school. Outside of digging the bike racks (Danish give their bikes much more storage space that the Dutch, but then Amsterdam has more than one bicycle per person), I couldn't resist walking the high and low systems in this weather inspired playground. Above the rubber peaks and valleys was a weather vane of sorts, slowly spinning. They also included mathematical formulas (you can see the beginning of the Fibonacci sequence), and the capitals of Scandinavian countries (the capital of Greenland is Nuuk).
Top L to Bottom R: First three are school playground, bottom L: bicycle counter (I am assuming the digital camera and the LEDs don't combine well, it is legible in life) on one of Copenhagen's busiest bridges, just to encourage riders; bottom R: sidewalk guides to help visually impaired people navigate a horrible touristy street. These exist in many cities, in the US as well, but the sleek design of these caught my eye. They were easy to feel underfoot as well, but not trip-worthy.
Lost and Found (back in Amsterdam)
How Reasonable: a public kiosk to place things you find, and look for things you lost. Here is one on Kinnkerstraat, but I have also noticed them in Vondelpark.
Design can be kind.
*with thanks to Susie Brandt
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