Design Commissions
Collective Works (Karin Mientjes and Peter Zuiderwijk) created the spatial design for the 2018 Prix de Rome Architecture exhibition.
Prix de Rome Architectuur 2018
A Prix de Rome nomination offers young architects an important opportunity to present themselves to the world. "When we made studio visits to the four nominees, in preparation for the exhibition, they had already devised their presentations for the top floor of Het Nieuwe Instituut," says Peter Zuiderwijk. However, the nominated architects' purview didn't consider the exhibition as a whole, and achieving a balanced presentation was needed. "We talked to the nominees and looked at how we could proceed together."
Collective Works consider themselves mediators. "We invest a lot of time and effort in the social process," says Karin Mientjes. "We believe it's necessary for good results. Therefore, mediation between all parties involved, such as curators, designers, artists, project and communication staff, plays an important role in our work." They observe that many cultural institutions question their position. The same institutions remain committed internally to traditional structures, with strictly defined roles and budgets for presentation (spatial design), communication/marketing (graphic design) and education.
"To tell their stories effectively, the architects had to decide what to include and omit," says Mientjes. "Central to each presentation are scale models, surrounded by drawings and texts." Collective Works developed a wooden, slatted construction for use in various ways. This exhibition design offers greater freedom while ensuring unity and order. With this in mind, Mientjes and Zuiderwijk also developed graphic elements for the presentation of the drawings and texts. And to avoid static introductory texts at the beginning of the exhibition, the prize and the nominees are introduced with video interviews. The result is a well-orchestrated exhibition. "As designers, we may be facilitators, but that doesn't mean we don't want to make a statement," stresses Zuiderwijk. "Our goal is to present content in the best possible way. To this end, we have developed a clear system that is flexible and has many variations, so that an individual identity is created for each participant."
_The Prix de Rome finalists of 2018_ were given a fictional assignment. They developed a plan with a critical perspective on Amsterdam in the 21st century: an architectural proposal for the area near the Sixhaven opposite Central Station in Amsterdam North. The Prix de Rome is the oldest Dutch prize for architects under the age of 35 and visual artists under the age of 40. The winner receives a cash prize of ¬40,000 and a three-month residency at the American Academy in Rome. Since 2012, the Mondriaan Fund has organised and financed the prize.
Collective Works
Starting from a broad concept of design, Collective Works actively engages with particular contexts. They deal with the physical location and its environment and, above all, the social relationships that define a place. The outcomes can be activist campaigns, institutional programming, analytical reflections, situational identity branding, spatial proposals, publications, or social and educational interventions. Implemented tactics, dispositions and methodologies stem from a curious mindset and need for open exchange. As well as self-initiated projects, Collective Works clients include Sirius Art Centre (Cobh, Ireland), TodaysArt (The Hague), ConstructLab (Berlin), Cemeti - Institute for Art and Society (Yogyakarta, Indonesia), Chicago Architecture Biennale (Chicago), Van Abbemuseum (Eindhoven), Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (Rotterdam), Chisenhale Gallery (London), Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art (Rotterdam). Karin Mientjes and Peter Zuiderwijk teach at ArtEZ in Arnhem, WdKA in Rotterdam and KABK in The Hague.