Victor Veldhuijzen van Zanten studied at the faculty of architecture of the Delft University of Technology.
Graduated in 1973 on a design for a community center in the city of Helmond where he suggested to reuse an existing but gone out of use factory building in the center of the city as the rough construction for the new function. His design was at that time the first application of the transformation of a consisting building into a new function at the faculty of architecture.
After finishing his study he moved with his wife Marjolijn van den Assem and children Ellemijn and Boris to the South of France where he worked as a designer in the architecture office “Atelier Sud” in Antibes.
In 1976 he established an independent architectural studio in the city of Gouda where during 15 years he accomplished some fifty small and medium commissions of which the greater part were projects in the center of the medieval city of Gouda that required a senseful adaption of architectural style. An explicit human scale, plural visual information and a formal discipline played an important role in designing buildings in modern architectural style that fitted well in their historical ambiance.
In 1990 the studio moved to Rotterdam to a self-designed and self-built house with two studio’s at the bank of the Nieuwe Maas River.
Some twenty medium-sized designs were produced during the next 20 years, mostly office- and industrial buildings.
In 1993 the first prize was won after a pre-selection out of thirty architectural studios and a competition with three other wellknown architectural firms from Rotterdam, The Hague and Amsterdam, for the renovation-commission of the GrootHandelsGebouw in Rotterdam. Also a first prize was won in the competition for the design of the club-house of the Rotterdam Rowing Club Nautilus.
Victor VvZ developed a recognizable architecture style making use of elementary forms and colours and mostly based on a theme that comes into existance in an evident way when researching the particular circumstances of each differentiated commission. Qualifications like: objectif, un-personally, modest, discreet, time-less, technical expressive, and traditional expressions like: “less is more”, “in the limitation the master shows his skill”, “easy does it”, are the main identity-creating qualities of Victor’s designs. Each design expresses the search for the most evident solution of the problem.
Different executive functions were fulfilled like:
- Curator of the Dutch Arbitration Institute for Architecture
- Treasurer of the Rotterdam Department of Dutch Architects Association BNA
- President of Snijpunt, the Rotterdam Club that organizes trips to architectural interesting projects
- Deacon of the Rotterdam Department of Dutch Architects Association BNA
- Visiting Critic at the Delft University of Technology
- Guest Tutor at the Rotterdam Academy of Architecture
- Member of different Amenities Committees in Gouda and for Dorp, Stad & Land in Rotterdam
In 2001 the Tectotroop was received form the BNA as an honour because of “excellent promotion of the interests of the professional branch”.
- Rietveld Schröder House, Utrecht. Plastic Model Kit (2.000pcs.) and Paper Model Kit (30.000pcs.)
- Maison d’Artiste. Van Doesburg & Van Eesteren. I.c.w. Tjaarda Mees (2.000pcs.)
- Atelier Van Doesburg, Meudon. Van Doesburg & Elzas. I.c.w. Gerard Rijnsdorp (2.000pcs.)
- Lloyds of London, London. Richard Rogers (11.000pcs.)
- Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Gerrit Rietveld. I.c.w. Tjaarda Mees (3.000pcs.)
- Robie House, Chicago. Frank Lloyd Wright (3.000pcs.)
- Huis van de Toekomst. Cees Dam, Chriet Titulaer (2.000pcs.)
- Museum De Zonnehof, Amersfoort. Gerrit Rietveld (2.000pcs.)
- World Port Center, Rotterdam. Norman Foster (4.000pcs.)
- Villa Sonneveld, Rotterdam. Brinkman & Van der Vlugt (1.000pcs.)
- Chabot Museum, Rotterdam. Baas & Stokla (1.000pcs.)
- Philips Pavilion EXPO, Brussels. Le Corbusier, Xenaxis, Varèse (6.000pcs.)
Non-realized Architectural Model Kits:
- Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, Hong Kong. Norman Foster.
- ABN-AMRO Bank, Amsterdam. Pei, Cobb & Partners.
-
Maison d’Artiste
In 1998 Victor VvZ took the initiative to realize the “Maison d’Artiste“, the design of Van Doesburg and Van Eesteren from 1923, on a scale of 1:1. The Foundation Realization Maison d’Artiste was founded in 2004.
The Foundation Van Eesteren-Fluck & Van Lohuizen granted the copyrights for the realization in 2009.
Architectural excursions
Victor VvZ has organized in his function of chairman and member of the board of “Snijpunt” several tens of visits to architectural interesting buildings in Rotterdam, The Hague and Amsterdam.
Recently tours were organized to Hannover (World Expo), Antwerp (Richard Rogers), Beijing (Olympic Games) and Dubai (Burj Dubai). In October 2010 an architectural tour will be organized to Hong Kong, Shanghai (World Expo) and Beijing.
Architectural symposia
In 2007 Victor VvZ took the initiative to organize in close cooperation with the NAi the symposium “architectuur 2.0″ in the Great Hall of De Doelen Theatre in Rotterdam. More than 1.000 visitors listened to speeches of Rem Koolhaas, Wiel Arets, Winy Maas, Francine Houben, Ben van Berkel and Willem Jan Neutelings. Ole Bouman, director of the NAi performed as mediator. Five young and promising architects pitched their philosophies about the future of architecture. Ivo Opstelten, the Mayor of Rotterdam opened the symposium and Elco Brinkman, the president of the Dutch Builders Union held a short inspiring speech.
The symposium “architectuur 2.0″ was repeated in 2009. Victor VvZ was again responsible for the organization in cooperation with the NAi. This time Jo Coenen, Michiel Cohen, Kees Christiaanse, Adriaan Geuze, Lacaton & Vassal and Thomas Rau were invited as speakers under the moderation of Ole Bouman. As a special event a satellite-connection to Australia was brought forth with the Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels who gave a lesson in sustainability.
The symposium “architectuur 2.0″ was repeated in 2011: Booming Architecture in India and China:
Pocket-container
In close cooperation with the Rotterdam Health Authority GGD a so-called “pocket-container” was developed and a number of 40.000 pieces were produced in Taiwan. These pocket-containers are meant to be distributed to drugs-addicts in Rotterdam to store their used needles and syringes.
Schmidt Oyster Opener
In commission of Schmidt Zeevis bv Rotterdam an Oyster Opener was developed and produced in China. The idea behind the development was to create a tool by which people can open different kinds of oysters in a safe and easy way. The Schmidt Oyster Openers are for sale in several Dutch selected shops like De Bijenkorf.
Tsaikovski Nutcracker
Recently a handy nutcracker was developed and at present under construction. This Tsaikovski Nutcracker is meant to open nuts of different kinds in a very easy, clean and safe way.
About
Foto van de maquette op schaal 1:50 van het Maison d’Artiste, vervaardigd door Frans Postma in 2006 aan de hand van gegevens die het resultaat waren van een analyse door Victor Veldhuijzen van Zanten van de beschikbare gegevens uit 1923. Het oorspronkelijk ontwerp van het Maison d’Artiste werd in 1923 gemaakt door Theo van Doesburg en Cor van Eesteren voor de tentoonstelling Les Architectes du Groupe “de Styl” in Galerie “L’EFFORT MODERNE” van Léonce Rosenberg te Parijs.
De Stichting Realisatie Maison d’Artiste ijvert voor de bouw van het Maison d’Artiste op schaal 1:1.
Voor meer informatie: Maison d’Artiste
ir.Victor W.-J. Veldhuijzen van Zanten b.i. bna
Architect / Designer
Schaardijk 1
3063 NH Rotterdam (Holland)
T: +31-(0)10-4523456
M: +31-(0)6-54321148
E: marvic@box.nl
Victor Veldhuijzen van Zanten studied at the faculty of architecture of the Delft University of Technology.
Graduated in 1973 on a design for a community center in the city of Helmond where he suggested to reuse an existing but gone out of use factory building in the center of the city as the rough construction for the new function. His design was at that time the first application of the transformation of a consisting building into a new function at the faculty of architecture.
After finishing his study he moved with his wife Marjolijn van den Assem and children Ellemijn and Boris to the South of France where he worked as a designer in the architecture office “Atelier Sud” in Antibes.
In 1976 he established an independent architectural studio in the city of Gouda where during 15 years he accomplished some fifty small and medium commissions of which the greater part were projects in the center of the medieval city of Gouda that required a senseful adaption of architectural style. An explicit human scale, plural visual information and a formal discipline played an important role in designing buildings in modern architectural style that fitted well in their historical ambiance.
In 1990 the studio moved to Rotterdam to a self-designed and self-built house with two studio’s at the bank of the Nieuwe Maas River.
Some twenty medium-sized designs were produced during the next 20 years, mostly office- and industrial buildings.
In 1993 the first prize was won after a pre-selection out of thirty architectural studios and a competition with three other wellknown architectural firms from Rotterdam, The Hague and Amsterdam, for the renovation-commission of the GrootHandelsGebouw in Rotterdam. Also a first prize was won in the competition for the design of the club-house of the Rotterdam Rowing Club Nautilus.
Victor VvZ developed a recognizable architecture style making use of elementary forms and colours and mostly based on a theme that comes into existance in an evident way when researching the particular circumstances of each differentiated commission. Qualifications like: objectif, un-personally, modest, discreet, time-less, technical expressive, and traditional expressions like: “less is more”, “in the limitation the master shows his skill”, “easy does it”, are the main identity-creating qualities of Victor’s designs. Each design expresses the search for the most evident solution of the problem.
Different executive functions were fulfilled like:
- Curator of the Dutch Arbitration Institute for Architecture
- Treasurer of the Rotterdam Department of Dutch Architects Association BNA
- President of Snijpunt, the Rotterdam Club that organizes trips to architectural interesting projects
- Deacon of the Rotterdam Department of Dutch Architects Association BNA
- Visiting Critic at the Delft University of Technology
- Guest Tutor at the Rotterdam Academy of Architecture
- Member of different Amenities Committees in Gouda and for Dorp, Stad & Land in Rotterdam
In 2001 the Tectotroop was received form the BNA as an honour because of “excellent promotion of the interests of the professional branch”.
Since 1984 some twenty Architectural Model Kits were designed and produced, amongst them:
- Rietveld Schröder House, Utrecht. Plastic Model Kit (2.000pcs.) and Paper Model Kit (30.000pcs.)
- Maison d’Artiste. Van Doesburg & Van Eesteren. I.c.w. Tjaarda Mees (2.000pcs.)
- Atelier Van Doesburg, Meudon. Van Doesburg & Elzas. I.c.w. Gerard Rijnsdorp (2.000pcs.)
- Lloyds of London, London. Richard Rogers (11.000pcs.)
- Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Gerrit Rietveld. I.c.w. Tjaarda Mees (3.000pcs.)
- Robie House, Chicago. Frank Lloyd Wright (3.000pcs.)
- Huis van de Toekomst. Cees Dam, Chriet Titulaer (2.000pcs.)
- Museum De Zonnehof, Amersfoort. Gerrit Rietveld (2.000pcs.)
- World Port Center, Rotterdam. Norman Foster (4.000pcs.)
- Villa Sonneveld, Rotterdam. Brinkman & Van der Vlugt (1.000pcs.)
- Chabot Museum, Rotterdam. Baas & Stokla (1.000pcs.)
- Philips Pavilion EXPO, Brussels. Le Corbusier, Xenaxis, Varèse (6.000pcs.)
Non-realized Architectural Model Kits:
- Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, Hong Kong. Norman Foster.
- ABN-AMRO Bank, Amsterdam. Pei, Cobb & Partners.
-
Maison d’Artiste
In 1998 Victor VvZ took the initiative to realize the “Maison d’Artiste“, the design of Van Doesburg and Van Eesteren from 1923, on a scale of 1:1. The Foundation Realization Maison d’Artiste was founded in 2004.
The Foundation Van Eesteren-Fluck & Van Lohuizen granted the copyrights for the realization in 2009.
Architectural excursions
Victor VvZ has organized in his function of chairman and member of the board of “Snijpunt” several tens of visits to architectural interesting buildings in Rotterdam, The Hague and Amsterdam.
Recently tours were organized to Hannover (World Expo), Antwerp (Richard Rogers), Beijing (Olympic Games) and Dubai (Burj Dubai). In October 2010 an architectural tour will be organized to Hong Kong, Shanghai (World Expo) and Beijing.
Architectural symposia
In 2007 Victor VvZ took the initiative to organize in close cooperation with the NAi the symposium “architectuur 2.0″ in the Great Hall of De Doelen Theatre in Rotterdam. More than 1.000 visitors listened to speeches of Rem Koolhaas, Wiel Arets, Winy Maas, Francine Houben, Ben van Berkel and Willem Jan Neutelings. Ole Bouman, director of the NAi performed as mediator. Five young and promising architects pitched their philosophies about the future of architecture. Ivo Opstelten, the Mayor of Rotterdam opened the symposium and Elco Brinkman, the president of the Dutch Builders Union held a short inspiring speech.
The symposium “architectuur 2.0″ was repeated in 2009. Victor VvZ was again responsible for the organization in cooperation with the NAi. This time Jo Coenen, Michiel Cohen, Kees Christiaanse, Adriaan Geuze, Lacaton & Vassal and Thomas Rau were invited as speakers under the moderation of Ole Bouman. As a special event a satellite-connection to Australia was brought forth with the Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels who gave a lesson in sustainability.
The symposium “architectuur 2.0″ was repeated in 2011: Booming Architecture in India and China:
Industrial Designs
Pocket-container
In close cooperation with the Rotterdam Health Authority GGD a so-called “pocket-container” was developed and a number of 40.000 pieces were produced in Taiwan. These pocket-containers are meant to be distributed to drugs-addicts in Rotterdam to store their used needles and syringes.
Schmidt Oyster Opener
In commission of Schmidt Zeevis bv Rotterdam an Oyster Opener was developed and produced in China. The idea behind the development was to create a tool by which people can open different kinds of oysters in a safe and easy way. The Schmidt Oyster Openers are for sale in several Dutch selected shops like De Bijenkorf.
Tsaikovski Nutcracker
Recently a handy nutcracker was developed and at present under construction. This Tsaikovski Nutcracker is meant to open nuts of different kinds in a very easy, clean and safe way.
Monolite
Happy Driver
Omega-profile
System for Chairs, couches and tables
Streetfurniture
- BOAZ bank
Architecture:
Selection of realized buildings:
- Alphatron 1
- Alphatron 2
- Eneco
- Telecom
- Bedrijfsverzamelgebouw Rivium
- Architectural Studio Schaardijk Rotterdam
- Villa Rotterdam
- Villa Pijnacker
- Housing project Gouda
- Clubhouse Rotterdam Rowing Club Nautilus
- GrootHandelsGebouw
- Helmhoek
Selection of non-realized projects:
- AXIS 1
- AXIS 2
- CapCresCent
- Ali Dib
- Bleiswijk
- Alphatron 3
- Alphatron 4
- Entrancebuilding Van der Giessen De Noord
Competitions:
- Clubhouse Dordrecht Rowing Club
- PIER 1001
- Temporal Exposition Pavillion BNA Rotterdam
- Building for Bouwkunde