Whimsical Entrance Gates Designed For An Amsterdam School Garden by Tjep.

Two stunning entrance gates serve as portals to nature in the historical Amstel Area. Frank Tjepkema (aka Tjep), along with Leonie Janssen, crafted two colored galvanized steel gates coated with epoxy and on a concrete foundation for the Aemstel Schooltuin (school garden).






The new working-garden, where over 500 school children aged 9 to 11 will learn about nature and grow their own plants, is situated on Kalfjeslaan, Amstel – a picturesque place steeped in rich cultural history.




Tjep. had the honour of being asked to create two new sets of entrance gates to the garden, a project commissioned by Stadsdeel Zuid, the Amsterdam South City Council.



Two sets of monumental gates will guard both approaches to Aemstel Schooltuin and add a contemporary element to this historic area. Settled next to the Riekermolen, built in 1636, the area has a long history of natural beauty appreciated by none other than Rembrandt himself. His statue sits next to the new school garden, frozen in the act of painting the famous windmill. One set of gates will mark the entrance from Kalfjeslaan, and the other will sit on the route from Amsteldijk.




“This amazing area deserved a design that paid homage to the unique context, but also brought a new influence to the place.” Says Tjep. founder and lead designer, Frank Tjepkema. The design integrates references to the lush flora and fauna of the surrounding environment, classical era elements with a contemporary urban graffiti construction.

Frank Tjepkema states that “a strict functional requirement was that the gates would stop those notorious plant criminals, rabbits – which we do through tightly woven patterns at the bottom. When constructed, these gates will stand at eight meters wide and four meters tall and become a portal, ushering people from the urban Amstel to the historic landscape beyond. I hope children and others will feel some anticipation, some excitement, as they pass through the gates to discover the verdant wonders of nature.”



Tjep
Production of the gates by Smederij van Rijn 

all photos and information courtesy of Frank Tjepkema

Urban Lace. The Softer Side of Street Art by Poland Artist NeSpoon.

NeSpoon, an artist from Warsaw, Poland works in several different mediums such as spray paint, concrete, macramé and ceramics, but almost always incorporates a lace pattern in her projects. She explains "What interests me in art is the expression of positive emotions. On the sensual level "Thoughts" are a study of delicacy."

Below are several images of her pretty 'graffiti' throughout the streets of Poland.





Her street graffiti adds a touch of elegance to otherwise cold dreary slabs of concrete, stepping stones, sides of houses and crumbling remains.














The Shrine
The project shown below, The Shrine, was created together with Maniac in Forty / Forty Gallery, Warsaw, Poland. It incorporates lace textures, lace sculptures and lace stencils.









NeSpoon on Behance

Turning Chain Link Fencing Into Art. Lace Fences By Demakersvan.

Combining the ancient craft of lace making with the industrial chain link, Dutch design house Demakersvan has changed the idea of enclosing spaces with their Lace Fences.





Using a high-end metal fabric, they are able to craft various fencing, from antique lace floral to contemporary designs and custom art patterns.



Every fence they create is unique in its design by its craft and assembled patterns, which come in a variety of themes.

some available patterns:



Available for either indoors our outside, the Lace Fence illustrates how something which was meant to be purely functional can also be decorative.

Here are some examples of their beautiful work.











To purchase a custom Lace Fence or learn more visit lacefence.com
You can also choose from their pre-made Lace Fence designs at Droog.


About Demakersvan:


From fantasy to factory, from statement to product, Dutch design house Demakersvan combines the old and the new, the industrial and the crafted, the hostile and the kind. Founded in 2005 by Joep Verhoeven, Jeroen Verhoeven and Judith de Graauw, Dutch design house Demakersvan has reached remarkable success within a short time. They are the designers behind the famous Cinderella table, which has been acquired by Victoria & Albert Museum, MoMA New York and Centre Pompidou. Refusing a limitation to one category the trio works with museums, architecture, furniture and fashion companies on commercial work and self-initiated projects. The studio is based in the Netherlands, and its production unit is based in Bangalore, India.
Demakersvan