the building in the image is where, temporarily, the Dutch House of Parliament resides. we cross paths every morning on my way to work.
I used to consider it to be one of the ugliest buildings in Den Haag.
grotesk. humongous.
since a year or two, I see it in a different perspective.
it is designed by architect Dick Apon and built in 1974 to 1985. it's nickname is Apenrots (monkey rock), referencing the many height differences and also the architect's last name (Apon).
designed in a brutalism architectural style, it is very much out of place with its surroundings. I feel that that's something which is always the case when a brutalist style building is placed in a city.
it never seems to align.
perhaps that's the whole intention.
appreciating this specific building more and more, I sense that it inspires me more than I'm aware of.
I sort of consider it to be the root inspiration for how the new STORE DU NORD logo is designed. the raw structure of brutalism yet with a hint of minimalism and even some delicate lines.
similar to the Apenrots.
during my daily walks, I try to become more aware of what I see and how it makes me feel.
how it drives me towards new ideas.
pushing me in new directions.
letting shapes and materials take form inside my mind.
something once considered hideous, now the root of a new visual identity.