Portraits: 15 Buildings KAAN Architecten

KAAN Architecten is a Rotterdam-based firm that promotes Dutch building traditions of sustainability,welfare,pragmatism,and quality through a collaborative and analytical design approach. This first substantial monograph on KAAN Architecten offers a comprehensive survey of their most important projects to date, presented as different characters with varying physiognomies but belonging to the same family. Lavishly illustrated with photographs, visualisations, plans, and drawings, and through essays by French architect Pierre Chabard and Dutch architectural critic Ruud Brouwers, Portraits explores KAAN Architecten's work using different lenses, highlighting that their designs are not single autonomous entities but rather parts of a shared vision.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 16 June 2022
Publisher: Park Books

KAAN Architecten, founded and led by Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen, and Dikkie Scipio, is a Rotterdam-based firm renowned for promoting Dutch building traditions of sustainability, welfare, pragmatism, and quality through a collaborative and analytical design approach. With satellite offices in Paris and São Paulo, the firm has gained widespread recognition for its complex public commissions that surpass traditional notions of typology and method. Their portfolio includes government offices, museums, urban development projects, as well as buildings for healthcare, education, and research.

This first substantial monograph on KAAN Architecten offers a comprehensive survey of their most important projects to date. The 15 buildings documented in the book are presented as distinct characters with varying physiognomies, yet they belong to the same family and share similar traits—hence the title of the book. Lavishly illustrated with photographs, visualizations, plans, and drawings, and through essays by French architect, critic, and scholar of architectural history Pierre Chabard and by Dutch architectural critic, writer, and editor Ruud Brouwers, Portraits explores KAAN Architecten's work through different lenses. By mapping out their complex genealogy, the book also highlights that the firm's designs are not single autonomous entities but rather parts of a shared vision.

KAAN Architecten's approach to design is characterized by a commitment to sustainability, welfare, pragmatism, and quality. They strive to create buildings that are not only functional and efficient but also environmentally responsible and socially inclusive. Their designs often incorporate innovative technologies and materials to achieve these goals, while also respecting the cultural and historical context of the sites they occupy.

One of the key features of KAAN Architecten's work is their ability to create buildings that are both visually striking and functional. Their designs often incorporate a mix of contemporary and traditional elements, resulting in buildings that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical. For example, their Museum of Modern Art in Rotterdam features a striking facade composed of glass and steel, while the interior spaces are designed to be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of the museum.

Another notable aspect of KAAN Architecten's work is their emphasis on collaboration and analysis. They believe that successful design requires a deep understanding of the client's needs and the context in which the building will be constructed. This approach allows them to work closely with their clients to develop a shared vision for the project, and to ensure that the final design is both practical and sustainable.

KAAN Architecten has completed a wide range of projects throughout their career, including government offices, museums, urban development projects, and buildings for healthcare, education, and research. Some of their most notable projects include the Museum of Modern Art in Rotterdam, the Dutch Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the University of Amsterdam's Science Park.

In conclusion, KAAN Architecten is a leading firm in the field of architecture, known for promoting Dutch building traditions of sustainability, welfare, pragmatism, and quality through a collaborative and analytical design approach. Their commitment to sustainability, welfare, pragmatism, and quality, combined with their ability to create visually striking and functional buildings, has earned them widespread recognition and acclaim. Through their work, they have demonstrated that architecture can be a powerful tool for creating a better future for society.

Weight: 1990g
Dimension: 308 x 249 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783038602859