Can you tell us a little about yourself?
We (Joey Rademakers & Roel Slabbers) are De Nieuwe Context, a research and design studio specialized in living and housing.
Our design projects focus on renovation of old buildings or structures and the research projects address more on meanings of living or housing and what this could mean in the future. We try to put up different projects to research the theme of living in different ways.
What will you consider your distinctive achievement?
As starting office it is important that we can start with design projects. We’re able to visualize the researched beyond the project through the design. In this way we allow ‘outsiders’ to visually connect with the abstract part of the investigation undertaken.
Currently we’re working on a project that involves our office; we’re very glad about it and it gives our studio the opportunity to show to the outside world what we do.
What are the qualities or knowledge you needed in order to achieve it?
For the entrepreneurial aspect of it, you only need a lot of guts at the beginning.
By failing, doing, trust in yourself, although it’s a cliché you need to trust in each others.
What are you looking forward to?
That we can do our project for the IBA (Internationale Bau Ausstellung). The research Joey did is becoming feasible, ready for the stage. Inhabitants can see it, but soon they will be able to be part of it. We’re looking forward to experiment with our ideas in a builded environment and see what outcomes we will get.
Which advice would you give to the young professionals?
Don’t stick to the rules. Actually change the rules.
What are the challenges that we need to overcome to make ‘cultural entrepreneurship’ more accessible?
You shouldn’t be to focus on the financial aspect, but on the content. Focus on it and I think that the ‘money factor’ will come later. Connect the different disciplines together. We’re still quite isolated in the box of ‘architecture’. We mix between disciplines but we don’t meet them. Meeting with them might open new doors.
