Ought to extra graphic designers be designing buildings?
After designing their own building in Amsterdam, Nikki Gonnissen and Thomas Widdershoven von Thonik discuss what distinguishes graphic designers from architects and what this could mean for a more collaborative future
"It's a big step from graphic design to architecture, but it's only a step," says Thomas Widdershoven, co-founder of the Dutch studio Thonik, which has just moved into a studio they designed in Amsterdam's Wibautstraat. "You can imagine that with all the experience we have in graphic design, designing a building wasn't such a big step, but we do it a bit differently than architects."
The building in question, wrapped entirely in black and white strips, was 12 years in the making and posed several design and legislative challenges along the way. According to Widdershoven, design studios in Amsterdam rarely own their studio buildings, which is why it was difficult for them to find a suitable retail space. Instead, they managed to get their hands on an awkward city government lot that had been turned down by the usual developers who would build on it.
First, Widdershoven said the studio would need to convince authorities to build an extra meter out on the sidewalk to take up additional space for the building. Fortunately, since the street is on what was once a railway line, many of the other nearby buildings are not completely lined up either, so they had a compelling argument.
Then they started the design process in close collaboration with MMX Architects so they had an experienced partner with whom they could exchange ideas and ensure their design was possible.