Niemeyer’s Catedral Metropolitana de Brasília plays centre stage in this end-of-year edition. His creation invites us to pause and look around us, and to experience earthly spirituality through architecture.

We welcome you to the December 2024 Edition of ” Through Different Eyes ” Magazine, in which we also look back at the past year, and present to you a preview of our upcoming projects for 2025.

All year around, Brinkman Fine Real Estate invites you into a carefully curated portfolio of properties in The Netherlands and beyond, each one a masterpiece of architectural distinction.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Catedral Metropolitana de Brasília, Brazil. Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012).
Photograph by Jonathan Lim.

ARCHITECTURE AND EARTHLY SPIRITUALITY

Whilst our eyes perceive, we retain the conscious choice to truly observe. We possess the agency to embrace and marvel at quotidian elements that surround us. It is precisely those aspects we typically overlook that harbour extraordinary power. Earthly spirituality connects faith with the mundane, revealing the extraordinary within the ordinary. By viewing our surroundings through an alternative lens, we may discover an entirely new dimension.

All things carry their own history and beauty, possessing layers of profound meaning. This endows them with symbolic significance. Through this earthly spirituality, we, as human beings, may experience glimpses of the divine, provided we maintain our vigilance.

An inspiring exemplar of this principle manifests in the work of architect Oscar Niemeyer. He is renowned for his unique architectural approach, wherein he masterfully combines nature’s fluid lines with monumental human aspirations. His designs, such as the Cathedral of Brasília, transcend mere physical structures; they are spaces where spirituality and aesthetics converge harmoniously. Remarkably, Niemeyer himself was a lifelong atheist, basing his own beliefs on cosmological principles. “It is a fantastic universe that humbles us, and we cannot make any use of it,” he said.

The Cathedral of Brasília, officially the Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida, appears nearly weightless, with sixteen curved concrete columns reaching skyward like hands in supplication. These structural elements, possibly alluding to Christ’s crown of thorns, collectively form a parabolic dome. The interplay of light and shadow, created through stained glass and the painted windows by artist Marianne Peretti, suffuses the space with a gentle luminescence that invites contemplation. The spiritual experience is heightened by the architectural promenade: visitors enter through a darkened tunnel into the circular space, seventy metres in diameter, embarking upon what one might term a metaphorical journey towards enlightenment. Niemeyer believed that architecture must transcend mere functionality to evoke emotion – a sense of connection to something greater than ourselves.

Just as Niemeyer’s designs symbolise the harmony between the earthly and the transcendent, earthly spirituality beckons us to view our world through fresh eyes. By consciously pausing to appreciate the beauty in the ordinary, we discover the depth and symbolism that encompasses us. This vision aligns with our philosophy “Through Different Eyes”.

The period encompassing Christmas and the New Year offers a time for reflection. It presents a magnificent backdrop against which to experience architecture in its most beautiful and multifaceted light. A layered earthly spirituality surrounds you, wherever you may find yourself. We extend our warmest wishes to our clients and colleagues for an extraordinary Christmas and an inspiring New Year.

Sources: Niemeyer, O. (2000). The Curves of Time: The Memoirs of Oscar Niemeyer. Phaidon Press. Underwood, D. (1994). Oscar Niemeyer and Brazilian Free-form Modernism. George Braziller. Arquitectura Viva. (n.d.). Catedral Metropolitana, Brasília. Arquitectura Viva.

Opening Article: Anna Vlaardingerbroek, Art Historian
Additions and Translations: Joep Hoogerwerf

Photographs of both apartments by Gloria Palmer.

TWO DISTINCT IDENTITIES IN HUIS LAMBERT TEN KATEE

In the past year, Brinkman Fine Real Estate successfully completed two projects at Huis Lambert ten Kate on the Herengracht. The project ‘Living Through Five Centuries’ was delivered in January, followed by the sale of ‘The Lambert ten Kate Residence’ in December.

Both apartments are distinguished by their notable distribution across three historic canal houses, of which the oldest, a monument of national importance, dates from 1620 – the period during which this section of the canal district was constructed. The characteristic elements of that era include a bell-shaped, richly adorned gable and a decorated hoisting beam. The respective six and seven windows facing the canal create, in both cases, a natural connection between the living spaces and the historic cityscape.

Apart from their comparable layouts, both houses possess quite distinct identities. While ‘Living Through Five Centuries’, with its exceptional Zen space, drew inspiration from Japan, the interior of ‘The Lambert ten Kate Residence’ exhibits a more pronounced Middle Eastern character. This further emphasises our philosophy: each house is an individual. It is a narrative. A history. A work of art. And a home. It is our mission to consistently unveil this unique character in our sales campaigns.

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Pictured first: Tableau Fine Arts Magazine – Edition PAN.
Second photograph: Aerial view of Villa La Gaviota, Spain.

TWO DISTINCT IDENTITIES IN HUIS LAMBERT TEN KATEE

Villa La Gaviota, our Spanish project designed by Alberto Rubio (b. 1954), features on page three of Tableau Fine Arts Magazine – an edition devoted to PAN Amsterdam 2024, the city’s most distinguished art and antiques fair, which was held this past November. For over three decades, PAN Amsterdam has drawn an international audience of art enthusiasts, collectors and connoisseurs.

At Brinkman Fine Real Estate, we frequently observe that a house is far more than mere bricks and mortar. It is a home, a sanctuary; it is family; it embodies character, identity, and companionship. And occasionally, it transcends these qualities to become a work of art. Villa La Gaviota is precisely such a house – surpassing the realm of architectural masterpiece to achieve a sculptural dimension.

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Photograph: Warehouse Sibilla, Amsterdam, ca. 1920. From City Archives.
3D-Visualization and Interior Design by Gloria Palmer.

TWO DISTINCT IDENTITIES IN HUIS LAMBERT TEN KATEE

The construction of Hoogte Kadijk took place in the early 17th century as part of Amsterdam’s development and protection against the waters of the Zuiderzee. The location evolved into an economic centre with numerous shipyards and warehouses. The first floor of the warehouse features a distinctive office space or studio of 791 square metres, which we will be bringing to market in early 2025.

The warehouse ‘Sibilla’ was constructed in 1895, designed by Hermanus Hendrikus Baanders (1849-1905). As an architect of the fin de siècle period, he combined traditional forms with Art Nouveau elements. Among his notable works was the Astoria (1905), an office building on Keizersgracht commissioned by the Eerste Hollandsche Levensverzekering Bank (First Dutch Life Insurance Bank). His sons Herman (1876-1953) and Jan (1884-1966) later became prominent architects within the Amsterdam School movement.

The warehouse ‘Sibilia’ originally consisted of three storeys and was operated by merchant Isaac Tas. A prominent importer of provisions, notably from Italy and Greece, Tas also held the position of Italian vice-consul for a period. In 1902, N.V. Vriesseveem acquired the premises and converted them into a cold storage facility. The building has served as offices since 1980, and following its renovation in 2003, it has once again emerged as a thriving centre of commerce.

Pictured: Korsjespoortsteeg, painted herringtons in the facade.
Photograph by Jan Willem Scholten.

PREVIEW: CITY HOUSE IN THE KORSJESPOORTSTEEG

The Korsjespoortsteeg in Amsterdam is named after timber merchant Corsgen Jacobzoon, who owned an orchard here in the 15th century. The city’s development at that time ended at the Singel (on the odd-numbered side), where a city gate provided access to the bridge leading to the orchard. Corsgin lived in the gate tower and was presumably also the gatekeeper. On Cornelis Anthonisz’s 1544 map of Amsterdam, one can already find the names Korsjesbrug and Korsjessteeg.

Although situated in the heart of the city, the location remains peaceful. In summer, residents dine in the street, and there is a strong sense of community. The side streets off the canals are characterised by the human scale of their buildings: most remain single-family dwellings with two storeys, an attic and distinguished façades. From the upper floors, one can observe the ornate gable tops and tiled roofs across the street, lending a special quality to living here.

This house, too, is one such generously proportioned property: some 170 square metres divided between front and back houses, connected by a central section with a tower housing the staircase. It comprises four large bedrooms, two bathrooms and two kitchens.

Text: Extract from description by Ir. Nanette de Jong

Photograph by Gloria Palmer.

PREVIEW: CANALHOUSE AT HERENGRACHT

Brinkman Fine Real Estate is in the preparatory phase of publishing a complete canal house on the Herengracht. The property comprises four floors and a lower-ground level, offering splendid views from each storey. The relatively wide front facade is remarkable. When the canal district was established in 1612, a clear division was implemented: the canal houses were designated for residential use, whilst the properties in the side streets were allocated to shops and businesses. The plots along the canal were larger but were required to maintain partial gardens, whereas the more expensive plots in the side streets could be fully developed. Corner plots, as in the case of this location, were considered most valuable due to their commercial potential, which has been preserved to this day.

Pictured: Villa De Berg, project in Bloemendaal.
Photograph by Gloria Palmer.

PREVIEW: CANALHOUSE AT HERENGRACHT

3D-Visualization by Gloria Palmer for a project in Bloemendaal.

STRATEGY

Brinkman Fine Real Estate has been selling and buying distinctive properties for our clients since 2018. At the heart of every project there is the decisive and primary tool: knowledge and imagination. We are experts on the sale and acquisition of architecturally significant objects, as well as historic homes and heritage in the Netherlands and beyond. We work hand in hand with both our clients and partners to maximize the value of every property, each treated as a unique work of art.

We explore, protect and display every element of that artwork’s creation: the architecture, the provenance, the possibilities — the soul of the house as a whole. Our alliance with Financial Times Property Listings since 2023 now stretches our selling campaigns around the globe, whilst also working closely with local partners, such as Funda (The Netherlands) and Idealista (Spain and Portugal).

Based on more than 30 years of experience and thorough knowledge of architectural treasures and creating interiors, we bring each property to it’s best. From modest city apartments to grand country houses and estates. We enhance existing interiors and display future potential by using 3D-Visualizations and Virtual Reality.

Taus Makhacheva at the Art and Architecture Biennale, Flachau, Austria (2016).

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR