Piet Blom (1934-1999)

Wooheee, it's time for my first blog entry. Today I got myself a nice little monograph about Dutch architect Piet Blom (1934 - 1999) at my favorite local bookshop, Extrabuch. With about 230 pages and countless full-colour images it provides a comprehensive overview of Blom's architectural work.

His by far most prominent building is the so called kubuswoningen (cube houses) in Rotterdam, a strange ensemble of houses that make you wonder how living in them is possible without getting seasick. What I like about Dutch post-WWII architecture in general is its playfulness: in contrast to the highly rational architecture of the De Stijl-years, the rebuilding after the war gave architects the opportunity to experiment with volumes and shapes that are out of the ordinary. I wonder how Piet Blom got his clients to buy into his designs:

Photo taken from Overblaak.nl