5 key initiatives by Dutch designer and Dezeen Awards decide Piet Hein Eek

Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek has joined Dezeen Awards 2023 as a decide. Right here he selects 5 initiatives that finest mirror his studio’s work.

Eek, who describes himself as “a designer, producer and distributor of my designs,” says his initiatives, which vary from furnishings to structure, mirror his distinctive perspective and method to design.

“Respect for what the world presents is the place to begin of all my work,” he instructed Dezeen. “Materials, approach and craft are the place I start all my designs.”

At the moment, Eek is engaged on a redevelopment of the Nyma Textile Manufacturing facility at Nijmegen, in addition to smaller initiatives and ongoing commissioned designs for objects and inside initiatives.

Piet Hein Eek amongst Dezeen Awards 2023 judges

Dezeen Awards 2023 launched on 15 February in partnership with Bentley Motors. On Tuesday we introduced the primary 5 Dezeen Awards judges together with architect Farshid Moussavi and artwork director Patrizia Moroso, who will probably be becoming a member of designer Eek on the judging panel.

The early entry interval ends on Wednesday 29 March. Click on right here to submit your undertaking and save 20 per cent on entry charges.

Learn on to seek out for Eek’s views on the 5 initiatives that finest symbolize the work of his studio.

RAG constructing, Eindhoven, the Netherlands, 2019

“This constructing was the engine room of an industrial space which was demolished to make room for housing.

“Our personal studio constructing, the RF constructing, and the RAG constructing had been the one remaining buildings. We redeveloped all of them.

“The RAG constructing was not really easy due to its measurement, which is sort of 1,000 sq. metres. By making one opening, we broke by the constructing and created its personal road.”

Piet Hein Eek’s studio, Eindhoven, the Netherlands

“I feel what we realised in our premises – with our office, showroom, retailer, eating places, resort and studios, which really feel like dwelling for thus many – appears like my largest achievement.”

Oak Chair, Eindhoven, the Netherlands

“I prefer it as a result of the chair is particularly designed for our method of manufacturing in small portions – collection are by no means larger than 100 – and as an alternative of shifting elements by a manufacturing facility, nearly the whole chair is made on one machine.”

“All conventional strategies to make a chair had been deserted. The chair is made with a number of consideration and expertise however not in a conventional method.”

Zambia undertaking, Haarlem, the Netherlands

“I used to be requested by an previous pal I studied with to design chairs and tables to be produced in Africa for the European market. The undertaking was funded by a church in Haarlem, and the purpose was to create jobs for individuals who grew to become disabled due to the battle.”

“The chairs and tables had been made and transported to Holland however we discovered that transporting the chairs over land was as costly because the making prices. The value of a chair was too excessive so the undertaking stopped.”

“Years later we came upon that the disabled carpenters truly made a dwelling by making my designs and variations of them. Unexpectedly, it grew to become probably the most profitable initiatives I’ve ever contributed to.”

Mavaleix, Chalais, France, 2015

“In 2005 I purchased a ruined previous water mill in Mavaleix, France. It took greater than 10 years to rebuild the 2 buildings.

“After years I realised that the river was used to move the large stones to the development web site in addition to the iron wheels or the mill itself coming from the forge a mile upstream!

“200 years in the past they understood higher what nature gives as a result of they did not have a selection. Now we expect we have now a selection, however I feel we must always at all times take note what the world has to supply, not what we would like the world to supply to understand what we would like!

“It is kind of the way in which I work; creating with what the world presents. The mill gave me a narrative masking all of my work!

All photographs courtesy of Piet Hein Eek.

Dezeen Awards 2023

Dezeen Awards celebrates the world’s finest structure, interiors and design. Now in its sixth yr, it has grow to be the final word accolade for architects and designers throughout the globe. The annual awards are in partnership with Bentley Motors, as a part of a wider collaboration that can see the model work with Dezeen to help and encourage the following technology of design expertise.