Petra Blaisse

Petra Blaisse (born 1955 in London, UK) is a British designer. She studied at Art School in London and in Groningen. Her work is an intersection of the professions of Architecture, Interior Architecture, Textile Design and Urban Architecture.

Curriculum Vitae

Petra Blaisse (London, 1955) started her career in 1978 at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, in the Department of Applied Arts, where she worked until 1986.

1986 onwards, she worked as freelance exhibition designer and won distinction for her installations of architectural works and design. Best described as ‘physical experiences’ (other than works on display in the classic sense), the exhibits were staged as walks through a series of changing environments with varying light and sound effects, collaged walls, billowing curtains and forests transparent columns. Gradually her use of soft materials, colour, light and sound as manipulative means made that her interest turned to architecture in general and the use of textiles and curtains in particular.

In 1991, she founded Inside Outside. Working both inside and outside, using curtains and plantings as her major tools, Blaisse grew more and more fascinated by the element of time, the effects of movement and change. She worked alone or in collaboration with other designers and architects in a multitude of creative areas, including interior, landscape and exhibition design.

In the winter of 1998 Blaisse found a studio and started to invite specialist of various disciplines to work with her. Currently the team consists of about ten people of different professions and nationalities. The Inside Outside team has commissions all over the world. Their projects, often commissioned or initiated by architects, vary in scale and complexity from small scale interventions - such as curtains or carpets, roof or patio gardens for private houses - to large scale work – such as interior advisory and specific designs for cultural or commercial buildings, public parks and entire landscape master plans.

Blaisse has lectured and taught extensively in Europe, Asia and the United States. Her work has been included in numerous design and architecture exhibits internationally. Just recently Inside Outside installed the Dutch contribution to the 13th Architecture Biennale in Venice. In 2000 a solo exhibition on Inside Outside’s work was organized at the Storefront for Art and Architecture in Soho, New York, for which Dutch graphic designer Irma Boom created Blaisse’s first publication, the Movements, 25% catalogue. In that same year Inside Outside won the 1st prize for the Downsview Park design in collaboration with Bruce Mau, Rem Koolhaas and Olson Warland Architects. In 2004, Inside Outside won 1st Prize for the Giardini di Porta Nuova park design named “Biblioteca degli Alberi’ in Milan, for which the Definitive Design has just been officially approved and tendered. Construction is due in 2015.

The first monograph on the work of Petra Blaisse / Inside Outside has been published February 2007 by NAi Publishers, Rotterdam and was reprinted by The Monacelli Press, a division of Random House Inc. New York, in October 2009.

In 2012 the studio installed a 200m2 woolen tapestry in the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam’s entrance hall and restaurant. In that same year the booklet ‘Movements, 25%’ was re-printed and officially published for the first time by Architectura & Natura Publishers, Amsterdam – combined with a DVD with films by Frans Parthesius of a selection of IO works and wrapped in a transparent fleece by the hand of Irma Boom.

Currently Inside Outside is working on numerous interior and landscape projects in Europe, Asia and the United States. Please have a look at our website for more information: www.insideoutside.nl

INSIDE OUTSIDE

Inside Outside, founded by lead-designer Petra Blaisse in 1991, is a multi-disciplinary team of architects, interior- and landscape architects, artists and designers. The studio is specialized in landscape design in a variety of scales and levels of complexity (from private gardens to landscape master plans) and in interior, curtain and exhibition design.

Working internationally since the very beginning of their career, Inside Outside is used to working in different time and climate zones, welcoming the varied forms of collaboration and exchange of knowledge and craftsmanship with local parties with positive enthusiasm and curiosity. Through continuous learning and incessant creative energy, Inside Outside combines technical sophistication with inventiveness; fitting their work to each new context and culture and simultaneously complementing the intent of the architect, client and users in question.

The studio's main interest lies in the creation of dynamic, site specific environments, both inside and outside. Tactile materials (such as textiles and plants), color, light, sound and time are their tools. Although for Inside Outside interior and landscape are one integral whole and although inter-disciplinary collaboration is what they stand for, the interior and landscape teams each consist of experienced professionals in the field. Their longstanding work-relationship with Blaisse and her Inside Outside studio makes that the team forms a firm base in all collaborations with third parties.

From conceptual to definitive design, the studio works in close collaboration with architects and clients, thoroughly studying the given situation and exchanging thoughts and information with – and presenting running design developments to – all parties involved on a regular basis. In the executive phases Inside Outside oversees and produces technical drawings and tender documents, supervises financial offers, coordinates production and is, as aesthetic director and hands-on collaborator, actively involved in the installation of their works on site.

Landscape

Inside Outside is a design firm that addresses both the interior and exterior space, working on commissions of small to very large scale, within the Netherlands and internationally. Our work continuously anticipates various aspects of a project - from meaning to use, cultural or social expectation and the economic and political context in which a project evolves. We begin by researching, develop a Concept design and a Preliminary design, work through Design Development, advise and control esthetics during Tender and Construction Phase. Inside Outside has a long history of professional collaboration with International architects and engineers, and this act of working together has mutually enriched our joint projects globally. In its broa-dest sense; our research, designs and Landscape Masterplans involve professionals that operate with a similar mentality and approach regardless of discipline, location or cultural history. During a landscape commission we often invite specialists into our team for a better understanding of local conditions, traditions and technical possibilities, enriching the outcome by intense interdisciplinary exchange and perpetual learning.

Design vision-Landscape as strategic tool

The scale of urban design offers us the opportunity to work with the landscape as a means to bridge boundaries; to open or connect areas and urban structures; and to communicate the political, social, educational and economic goals of a city. Public spaces provide freedom for people to move, play, interact, enjoy, work out and relax - but, more than offering these recreational services, it must also create income and employment, solve infrastructural, environmental, social and psychological imperatives.

Trajectories

IO is interested in the psychology of the public on a human level – How is one feeling and experiencing the space, how do people behave, feel, walk, see…. We introduce movement through texture, light, sound, color and the orchestration of trajectories; we manipulate floors, walls, ceilings and furniture in new ways, and we create new surroundings with inserted objects, layers or plantings that trigger movement or move through space and time themselves. We bring invisible or unused spaces to attention - make them part of the story, part of the trajectory…

Interior Exterior

Inside Outside is committed to exploring the connection between interior and exterior space; and the experience of space itself. Both inside and outside we create spaces that are flexible, adaptable and at times temporary. This provisional quality is what the public responds to and what we try to defend. Therefore, the end result tends to be soft or suggest softness; an implementation of objects or finishes that transmit or filter light, create shade or introduce darkness; that influence the acoustics and the viewers’ perception of a space; that respond to every change of context, private or public; and that

Interior

Most of the interiors projects are site specific, often for large public buildings, therefore each requiring a customized approach. For interiors, Inside Outside works in various ways; from general advisory of the whole space which include consultation on color, finishes, materials to surface treatment and products. Our reach in design includes exhibitions, carpets, wall papers, tiles and the most prominent_ curtains. The design process described below although specific for curtains, is also applicable to other design disciplines of how Inside Outside approaches any project.

Sketch Design Phase

Research Inside Outside often starts the process as conceptual consultants in the preliminary stages of an architectural project, in which case we research the context of a site and look at the potentials of a situation from a design and usability point of view, but also from a programmatic and technical angle: what can be solved or organized with certain interventions, additions, extractions, finishes, treatments; all in close communication with the architect’s team. We begin with studying the architectural drawings, scrutinize the details and gather samples of the interior finishes used.

Dialogue with external parties: Throughout the process we maintain a constant dialogue with the client, the architects or designers as well as the production and technical team. At a very early stage we involve acoustic engineers to study the site and estimate the amount of acoustic treatment needed within a space. No decision is taken in isolation even to the minutest detail.

Program: We then organize all the information gathered into a program. Given programs and the expected deliverables for our interventions are as complex, by now, as they are for built volumes: apart from acoustic absorption, -separation or –reflection according to meticulously detailed program, our curtains are expected to meet measurable requirements like sun reflection, temperature reduction, glare controlling, view filtering, darkening, shading, wind reduction, climatic protection or -isolation etcetera. They need to be fire resistant, color fast, long lasting, easy to handle and they have to meet site-specific maintenance expectations. Their weight requires specific constructions in roofs; their trajectory impacts the design of the ceilings, the floor plan, the pattern of the transparent facades; and their storage-volume influences the size and positioning of walls

Structural integration of tracks and storage: Often due to their large scale the weight of the curtains needs to be considered at the time of the construction of the building. We usually integrate the track into the ceiling or reinforce the existing structure to enable required the plane to withstand the dead weight or safety load for the curtain, especially in position of storage where the dead load has to be considered. At this step working with the buildings structural engineer is of utmost importance.

Sketch Design: We begin the design with making the first sketches and drawings. Often 3 to 4 options are made for each design and presented to the client for selection and comment. Simultaneously, we advise on movement and storage possibilities: its positions and possible techniques. We visit the site to document the space and estimate the prices and get quotations from third parties. We conclude this phase with a presentation to the client and/or the architects.

Samples and Models: Through years of experience we have learned the influence of scale and proportion and how it affects and alters a space; therefore all designs whether large or small are tested at an early stage; by making 1:1 samples in our studio and eventually tested on site. We often start with a smaller architectural scale model of the building and within the space test curtains for study purposes. The selected designs are then “blown up” to actual size which means magnifying it to 100 times, or even more

Design Development Phase:

In this phase the selected design takes a final shape. Technical description of materials, final samples ,visit to site to ensure correct measurements are some of the steps taken to create what we call a “Recipe” for the curtains. This recipe is then passed on to third parties for price quotes for manufacturing and installation. In this phase we also coordinate and assemble offers by various producers.

New Techniques: Staying updated about new technologies and materials available in the market is an issue that all designers at Inside Outside consider a hobby not only as part of the research but general curiosity. We look at materials and techniques not only related to our industry but also other totally unrelated ones, such as car manufacturing, medical and biological industry, military industry to name a few.

Testing/safety and building codes: Since most of our work is in large public buildings we often have to adhere to not only strict building codes that usually apply to architectural interventions but also to more sensitive political ones. Therefore testing the scaled samples on site for approval by all parties involved is considered very important by us.

Tender Procedure:

Depending on the procedure required by the client, usually architects, we are asked to prepare a document for tender and bids. These documents usually include descriptive texts, CAD drawings and recipes and material specifications and details for seamstresses and other production companies. We then do negotiations with various bidders in the name of the client and check offers, work and product quality for the specific commission

Production coordination and quality control: We coordinate material orders and coloring, printing and embellishment of the materials and are intensely involved in the manufacturing process making sure a high standard of workmanship is maintained and our recipes is followed to the minutest detail. We also coordinate the teams and timely delivery of work by being in constant communication with main contractor and project architects.

Installation/ Supervision:

We ensure our presence during installation of curtains and their finishing on site especially by third parties, and lending a helping hand to deliver a high quality of design.

Projects

Petra Blaisse designed a wide number of projects. The projects below she highlights by herself. Some highlights of interiors and exhibition projects are:

Finishes and curtains for the Casa da Música in Porto, Portugal (1999-2005)

Carpets and interior finishes for the Seattle Central Library, U.S.A. (2000-2004)

Restoration project for the Hackney Empire Theatre in London, UK (2000-2005)

Curtains for the Haus der kunst in Munich, Germany (2004-2007)

Auditorium and AAP Forum curtains, Cornell University Ithaca, New York (2007-2011)

Two curtains for the Chazen Museum of Art in Wisconsin, U.S.A. (2008-2011)

15 curtains for Dutch army officers’ apartments of the Kromhout Kazerne in Utrecht,NL (2009-2011)

Acoustic and view filtering curtain for the lobby of Rothschild Bank in London, UK (2009-2011)

Exhibition “Snapshot”, designed for the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam,NL(2010-2011)

Revisit of 8 curtains and 2 carpets in Villa Floirac in Bordeaux, France (2011-2012)

Tapestry Damast 200m2, developed in collaboration with carpet manufacturer Desso Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam (2011-2012)

Biennale in Venice (2012) with our installation “RE-SET, new wings for architecture “. (2011-2012)

Some highlights of Landscape projects are:

Gardens for the Seattle Central Library (2000-2004)

Landscape for Villa Floirac in Bordeaux, France (2000-2005)

Biblioteca degli Alberi,a new urban park for the center of Milan, will begin construction in 2013. (2004-ongoing)

Landscape master plan for the transformation of a former waterfront in Riga, Lativia (2006)

Landscape design for the Taipei Performing Arts Center (Taiwan) is expected to start this year (2010-ongoing)

Landscape master plan competition (together with OMA) for the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong for which we were runners up (2011)

Landscape for the Roeterseiland Campus of the University of Amsterdam,NL

Design of gardens for office headquarters in Beijing, China (2011-ongoing)

Landscape master Plan for Lexington city in Kentucky (2011-2013)

Landscape design for the Walker Art Center in collaboration with AiWeiWei, Minneapolis, USA (2011-ongoing)

Design for the Special Events Curtain and Auditorium Curtain for the Qatar Library, Qatar (1013-ongoing)

Interior design of LocHal in Tilburg, the Netherlands (2015-ongoing)

Literature

Blaisse, Petra, Shifting Position, 2011, Lecture at Harvard University <http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/#/media/petra-blaisse-shifting-position.html> [October 12, 2014].

Blaisse, Petra, Inside Outside, Rotterdam (NAI) 2006.

Van den Heuvel, Dirk, Inside-outside, in: OASE (1997) 47, pp. 2-19.

Vanderstraeten, Margot, Ruimte wonder, in: De Morgen (Belgium) April 2014, pp. 48-56.

External links

• Inside Out - Blaise's company

http://www.margotvanderstraeten.com/margot-vanderstraeten-interviewt-petra-blaisse/

http://www.captainvideo.nl/musea-experience/arttube/

http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/#/media/petra-blaisse-shifting-position.html

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