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July 26, 2015

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Residence embodies Dutch values, design

TUCKED inside the Sanlitun diplomatic district in Beijing is an architectural gem — a magnificently designed residence for the Dutch ambassador.

With its impressively long facade and singlestory, the modernist structure stands out among the diplomatic buildings with a static yet welcoming allure.

The current ambassador, Aart Jacobi, and his wife have been living in this residence for over two years and say that it is to their complete satisfaction.

Dominated by an elongated granite wall that stretches beyond the building itself, the structure was designed by Dutch architect Dirk Jan Postel in 2005 and completed in 2007.

“One can argue it is very Dutch not to strictly stick to one style, but to combine all existing elements and philosophies together into one design. I think by referring to the Chinese hutongs and courtyard houses while maintaining a very Dutch style and design in terms of innovation and creativity, the residence has created an international, static yet homey atmosphere that is reflected on anyone who enters the compound and building,” the ambassador said.

“The exterior of the residence looks very contemporary and has an inviting appearance,” said Jacobi. “I also really like the cow replica that stands in the front yard, which was made for an agricultural event in Harbin but later moved to the residence and gives it a very Dutch feel as you pass by or when you enter.”

In combination with the minimalist design of the residence, the building communicates Dutch sensibilities to everyone who passes by: it reflects a typical Dutch combination of open-mindedness, creativity and humor.

The building is separated into two areas: a space for public functions such as dinners and receptions, and a private space where the couple lives.

The ambassador has not made changes to the original design of the public area: the quarters are spacious, modern and homey, and the whole space is tastefully decorated with Dutch art and design pieces.

The entire facade at the rear of the building is made of glass, offering a direct view to the garden. The architect went with transparent surfaces wherever possible, which could be seen as a way to connect with the outside as well as a symbol of Dutch transparency and open-mindedness.

“This way, guests get a feeling of being inside and outside at the same time. The colors of the interior are warm, so despite the connection to the outside, it is still really homey. There is a very modern, see-through fireplace that connects the dining room to the salon, providing the option to make every dinner feel cozy,” the ambassador said.

The interior design was done by Dutch designer Olav van der Berkel. The hallway was deliberately designed to give guests a comforting feeling of being welcomed immediately upon arrival. Above the entrance hangs a custom designed lamp “Aquila” by Belgian light artist Jan Pauwel’s studio Random. It consists of small recycled LED lights that hang from bicycle spokes.

The hallway stretches all the way to the rear of the house, where it overlooks the garden. The space is decorated with timeless Steltman chairs, and on the walls hang a colorful painting by Dutch artist Ien Lucas on one side and a print of Flowers Guangzhou by China-inspired Dutch artist Marco van Duyvendijk (2005).

Ample space is given to the reception/living room, in the southeast corner of the residence, with two glass walls overlooking and providing direct access to the garden.

An impressive artwork, Purple Leaves (2007), made of rice paper by Chinese artist Zhuang Hongyi, who is based in the Netherlands, hangs on the wall of the seating area. The other part of the living room features two special red lounge chairs, the Utrecht chairs by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, which adds a fun twist in the space.

The residence is comprised of linked rooms with hallways that enable openness and flexibility.

When walking through the main passage to the dining room, one can see several beautiful graphic artworks by Dutch artist Marian Bijlenga, who — inspired by Chinese characters and other Oriental scripts — uses small twigs to compose intriguing pieces of “Written Weed.”

The dining room has an intimate atmosphere and is the place where the ambassador shares interesting conversations with his guests. The room overlooks the outdoor garden on the east side of the residence, while on the south an indoor winter garden with tropical plants can be admired.

Throughout the room, ceramic pieces from world-famous Dutch designer Marcel Wanders can be found. On the wall hangs black-and-white watercolor paintings by Dutch painter Mary Alaoque Waters. Alongside the glass wall that overlooks the garden, multiple Butterfly stools by Sori Yanagi are arranged.

More intimate dinners and get-togethers can take place in the smaller salon room. One wall of this room is entirely covered by 40 square mono-prints by Dutch artist Kees Buurman, which depict an experimental search to perfect abstract shapes, colors boundaries and proportions in a square painting.

“One big characteristic of Dutch design is that it always tries to be functional and aesthetically beautiful, yet remain minimal: ‘less is more’ is an important state of mind in Dutch design and at the same time the idea is often the most important: the concept is what drives the design,” said Jacobi.

The outdoor garden is a crucial part of the home’s design, which can be seen from almost everywhere inside the residence. In contrast to the geometrically-shaped residence, the garden is characterized by an organic design that incorporates several kinds of materials: grass, trees, bamboo, plants and Asian stones.

The ambassador has always been fascinated by Asia. “When I became the Ambassador for the Netherlands in China a long cherished wish of mine was realized. The Netherlands has a comprehensive relationship with China and these relations are of growing importance,” he said.

“One of our major tasks is to stimulate Sino-Dutch collaborations in the fields of art, design and architecture. Beijing Design Week is a perfect annual platform to showcase what is happening in this field. This year, we will participate for the fifth consecutive year, and the Dutch program will focus on sustainable urbanization.”




 

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