Standardization and variation

The working method of Rotterdam designers’ firm Schie 2.0 is characterised by a critical attitude to Dutch regulations. Drawing from various disciplines, Schie 2.0 tries to challenge existing opinions and structures, in particular with regard to urban development and town planning. Schie 2.0 does not advocate the complete abolition of regulations, but it does urge to find a middle way between those regulations and citizen responsibility. The proposals and projects of Schie 2.0 promote autarky, stretch the existing rules, and develop or show variations on well-known elements of urban development or architecture.

Viva Vinex
Schie 2.0 realised the collages that make up Viva Vinex especially for Museum De Paviljoens, which commissioned them for the exhibition which was also called Viva Vinex! (2000). Artists and designers were asked to identify distinguishing features of Almere, starting from the idea that a new city develops its own characteristics and qualities, characteristics that are linked to the rapid growth of these locations, to their contemporary architecture and to the structure of their population.

In Viva Vinex, Schie 2.0 chose to apply a contemporary technique, inkjet printing, to the traditional medium of painter’s canvas. Whereas an inkjet print refers to standardisation and mass production, the canvas evokes associations with unicity and creativity. With this combination of materials, Schie 2.0 appears to want to show that there is enough room for individual interpretation and creativity, even within the limits of the regulations governing Vinex locations.

Filling public spaces
The designers of Schie 2.0 like to venture into different domains, witness Zeven straatstukken voor Almere (Seven Street Pieces for Almere). In these designs, the agency makes suggestions for a creative use of the public space. On the invitation of the local authorities of Almere, Schie 2.0 designed an artwork for the district Tussen de Vaarten, which was yet to be built at the time. The agency’s proposal was to dedicate parts of the district’s seven long, straight streets to another use (the length of about 5 houses, i.e., 25 to 30 m), e.g. by inserting an orchard, a heath meadow, or a basketball field. These ‘street pieces’ were to be integrated immediately as the district was built.

What is remarkable about all these proposals is that they all taken the regulations on Vinex locations into account, in every possible way. These regulations, for instance, lay down the number of parking spaces per dwelling, the distance between the lampposts and the trees, and the minimum width of the streets. The client, the Municipal Development Company, was so enthusiastic about the street pieces that it soon started realising one of the proposals. As is customary, this was done in close consultation with all parties involved, including the architects, project developers, the police and the fire department. All of the sudden, the strict framework of the Vinex rules was no longer seen as a barrier, but as a challenge for arriving at creative solutions.

Eventually, however, the street pieces were not carried out due to financial restrictions. Each street piece was to have its own character, and that would have been too great a burden on the budget of the Tussen de Vaarten project as a whole. On the other hand, carrying out just a single street piece would not have done justice to the remarkable concept of the proposal. Nevertheless, all parties concerned consider the street pieces proposal to be a successful project. In the lengthy process of intensive collaboration, the participants developed a new way of looking at and dealing with the regulations governing Vinex locations. Schie 2.0 showed how those rules could be used to advantage. They do not necessarily have to produce straight lines and strict frameworks. In fact, there is more than enough room for many completely different interpretations.

Martine Spanjers

Read the personal story of Pascal Bekkerering, messenger in the Cityhall of Almere about Viva Vinex by Schie 2.0.

Schie 2.0, Viva Vinex
Schie 2.0 (Jan Konings, b. 1966, Lucas Verweij, b. 1965 & Ton Matton, b. 1964)
Viva Vinex, 2000
inkjet print on canvas
4 parts, each 153 cm x 153 cm
1 part donated in 2001, 3 parts on permanent loan from the artists, 2002, Museum De Paviljoens
Zeven straatstukken voor Almere, 1999-2000
6 photo montages, each 110 cm x 60.5 cm
2 scale models, each 34.5 cm x 10.5 cm x 3.5 cm
design commissioned in 1999,
Municipal Development Company / Museum De Paviljoens