The Centre for Cubic Constructions

This is very cool...

Bert Vanderveen left a great comment on the Dutch Child Welfare stamps post with some interesting background information. So I quizzed him on the designers responsible for them, Willem Graatsma and Jan Slothouber, and he very kindly translated some biographical notes he'd linked to:

Willem Graatsma worked as an exhibition designer for DSM (Dutch State Mines) where he met Jan Slothhouber. They collaborated at DSM between 1955 and 1970 on 3D and graphic presentations, always using a cube as a basic element, thus creating a recognizable corporate identity for DSM.

In 1965 Graatsma and Slothouber launched the Centrum voor Cubische Constructies (Centre for Cubic Constructions), where they expanded their exploration of 'simple and economic solutions with universal applications'. In 1970 CCC represented the Netherlands at the 35th Biënnale of Venice.

After 1970 Graatsma began teaching architecture and art and in 1983 became director of the Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht, a position he fulfilled until 1990.

After Jan Slothouber left DSM he became a lecturer and later a professor at TH Eindhovan (Polytechnic). In 1983 he ended his 15 year tenure there.

Bert did some investigation and came up with this extra info:

Jan Slothouber (born 1918) died in Eindhoven, 29 November 2007. Won an IKEA Award in 1989 for his cubic constructions. Some of his works have been acquired by the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. It seems that the CCC Archives have ended up there too.

Willem Graatsma (born 1925), aka William PARS Graatsma, has written on art and architecture, especially about the Dutch monk and architect Doms Hans van der Laan (who has a very small but very influential œuvre). Graatsma must still be alive because I have not found an obituary...and he was a good friend of the late Pieter Brattinga, a seminal figure in Dutch design.

A couple of years ago there was a documentary about G&H on Dutch TV.

I did a little digging around too and found this.

 

Got to say a very special thank you to Bert.

Comments

[Andrea]

A very, very big Thank You to Bert for those amazing links, and all the information! I have spent a wonderful morning following up every single one, it is almost like spending the day in the Netherlands. Maastricht is definitely a place I would like to visit. I enjoyed reading through the yearbook published by the Jan van Eyck Academy students, but it seems strange to me that there were so many interior pictures of the Academy on the web, but no exterior shots anywhere - not even on the Academy's website?? Perhaps I missed it. If I did go to Maastricht, I would probably walk right past the Academy??

Also marvelous, though not print-related - the Stedelijkmuseum's website had links to various YouTude videos made by visitors. The Deep Screen exhibit had an installation that was basically a large speaker set on a boom attached to a scanner! The reactions of the viewers were so cool. Imagine, art that physically sought out, no, aggressively Chased Down its audience, and then PELTED them with sound!

Also enjoyed the Graatsma/Slothouber tribute video, didn't need to understand a word of it to appreciate the work. What a great morning! Thanks again from here in Minnesota.

[porter]

Ohhh! This is too cool!!

[dave]

Wow, thanks for posting this.

[matt olson]

another minnesotan feeling grateful for having wandered by, and thus, into this great little world of links and inspiring beauty.