There's no doubt about it, Jan and Monique des Bouvrie are the "it" couple of the Netherlands. Through television appearances, magazine spreads and their own design center (containing studios, a design academy, shops and restaurants) they have become celebrities. Their style is part classic modernism, part pop-art, and whole lot of sophisticated splash.
Jan, born in 1942, studied at the Rietveld Academy under the iconic architect Gerrit Rietveld. His minimalist work is white and devoid of decorative detail; pure form. And yet, the spaces he has created are very livable. I suspect that the softness perceived in these spaces is due to his love of symmetry; though new and modern, a nod to classicism is always present.
 |
| Residence by Jan des Bouvrie |
From the very start, Jan has also been a furniture and product designer. One of his earliest pieces, Kubusbank (cube sofa) from 1969, is still in production.
 |
| Kubusbank sofa by Jan des Bouvrie |
Monique and Jan met in 1987 and they have now been married (with two children) for 26 years. Monique is a bit younger--okay by twenty years--but who's counting? She gradually began to bring a little color into Jan's stark white spaces and soon the two became a design team. Her use of color, art, and unusual objects along with his own appreciation of contemporary art and beautifully designed spaces are perfect compliments.
I love Monique's clever idea: If a client does not own any large art pieces, she simply goes to one of the many online photo buying sites, picks out some interesting images, and has them blown up to wall size -- pure genius!
Another ingenious design, the Catwalk table (for those moments when one just must dance on the table):
Comments
Post a Comment