Matthew Cook
@matthew-cook.bsky.social
Rotterdam resident, British born. Architecture trained, working in urban design/planning. Interested in architecture, cities, ecology, politics. Ik moet mijn Nederlands meer gebruiken.
Last ones showing the gallery access. It really has been a very successful renovation. It's not exactly the weather now but the deck is well used and very neighbourly
November 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Last ones showing the gallery access. It really has been a very successful renovation. It's not exactly the weather now but the deck is well used and very neighbourly
A few more pictures of/from the interior spaces
November 11, 2025 at 3:19 PM
A few more pictures of/from the interior spaces
Great post! I'm very lucky, my office is that workspace in the central service block. The tower used to hold the baths and laundry facilities. These have gone but the district heating/cooling system is still upstairs. Here are some pics of the interiors. First 3 is the office, last is the gallery
November 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Great post! I'm very lucky, my office is that workspace in the central service block. The tower used to hold the baths and laundry facilities. These have gone but the district heating/cooling system is still upstairs. Here are some pics of the interiors. First 3 is the office, last is the gallery
As a fellow 34 year old, of course Mamdani chose the location from the end of Men In Black for his announcement
November 5, 2025 at 8:08 PM
As a fellow 34 year old, of course Mamdani chose the location from the end of Men In Black for his announcement
Was trying to find the story of how he got into Oxford and found there is now an ai overview which is maybe funnier than the story itself?
October 31, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Was trying to find the story of how he got into Oxford and found there is now an ai overview which is maybe funnier than the story itself?
I don't get a vote but I did get to take a #dogsatpollingstatoions #hondenbijhetstembureau photo!
October 29, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I don't get a vote but I did get to take a #dogsatpollingstatoions #hondenbijhetstembureau photo!
The Dutch ballot paper (this is a dummy ballot) might just be the largest in the world
October 29, 2025 at 10:14 AM
The Dutch ballot paper (this is a dummy ballot) might just be the largest in the world
Maybe it's anglocentrism but this headline is framed very oddly. The PVV could finish first but with 25% less seats and no viable coalition. The Dutch call that losing. Wilders also wants to claim that <20% vote share is a win and it's undemocratic he's not in power, but it's just trumpian nonsense
October 29, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Maybe it's anglocentrism but this headline is framed very oddly. The PVV could finish first but with 25% less seats and no viable coalition. The Dutch call that losing. Wilders also wants to claim that <20% vote share is a win and it's undemocratic he's not in power, but it's just trumpian nonsense
Dutch general elections are two weeks away and great fun for UK election nerds as it's basically the inverse of how the UK does it. These ad boards are up across the country listing all the parties running. Over a dozen of these could get seats. There are always new ones or ones I've not heard of.
October 14, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Dutch general elections are two weeks away and great fun for UK election nerds as it's basically the inverse of how the UK does it. These ad boards are up across the country listing all the parties running. Over a dozen of these could get seats. There are always new ones or ones I've not heard of.
Fun afternoon yesterday at the Groen Doeners Fesitvaal at Oase in Rotterdam. Nature isn't in some farmers field, it's in the cracks between us all
October 12, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Fun afternoon yesterday at the Groen Doeners Fesitvaal at Oase in Rotterdam. Nature isn't in some farmers field, it's in the cracks between us all
My first memory of capital A Architecture is Grimshaw's RAC tower at the M5/M4 junction near Bristol. Seen from the back seat of a car it felt like the future. My appreciation for that building and all of Grimshaw's work has only grown over the years. Truly he was one of Britain's best architects.
September 16, 2025 at 1:17 PM
My first memory of capital A Architecture is Grimshaw's RAC tower at the M5/M4 junction near Bristol. Seen from the back seat of a car it felt like the future. My appreciation for that building and all of Grimshaw's work has only grown over the years. Truly he was one of Britain's best architects.
Handig dat de oude Blokker waterkoker kapot gaat net nadat Blokker terug is
August 28, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Handig dat de oude Blokker waterkoker kapot gaat net nadat Blokker terug is
I'm (finally) reading City of Quartz, and I'm not sure I could find a more suitable spot in the Netherlands to read it if I tried
August 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
I'm (finally) reading City of Quartz, and I'm not sure I could find a more suitable spot in the Netherlands to read it if I tried
Amsterdam has decided to take a much more industrial approach when it comes to My Fair Lady
August 1, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Amsterdam has decided to take a much more industrial approach when it comes to My Fair Lady
You see a lot of interesting bikes here in NL, this is my first refrigerated cargo bike though!
July 22, 2025 at 7:54 AM
You see a lot of interesting bikes here in NL, this is my first refrigerated cargo bike though!
Missed a few weeks at the allotment due to being busy and then not wanting heatstroke, the change is so huge it's like these plants wait to sneak up on you
July 6, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Missed a few weeks at the allotment due to being busy and then not wanting heatstroke, the change is so huge it's like these plants wait to sneak up on you
I finally went to see Duiker's Zonnestraal sanatorium recently, it is, of course, fantastic. I would have gone years ago if someone had told me I would also get to watch GLIDERS the whole time I was there too!
July 2, 2025 at 10:26 PM
I finally went to see Duiker's Zonnestraal sanatorium recently, it is, of course, fantastic. I would have gone years ago if someone had told me I would also get to watch GLIDERS the whole time I was there too!
Going down a water slide in front of Kim Jong Un sounds like the most terrifying job. You know what happens if you displease the leader, but how do you please him? Did the slider spend all last week checking the splash zone and dialing in his 'delight' scream?
June 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Going down a water slide in front of Kim Jong Un sounds like the most terrifying job. You know what happens if you displease the leader, but how do you please him? Did the slider spend all last week checking the splash zone and dialing in his 'delight' scream?
12 hours later and Rotterdam is still at risk of being stingerd
June 24, 2025 at 8:18 PM
12 hours later and Rotterdam is still at risk of being stingerd
It's an Apaches flying over the office kinda day
June 24, 2025 at 8:16 AM
It's an Apaches flying over the office kinda day
There is an enormous water tank that's been sitting for months on a pavement in my neighborhood. The proposed use is a mystery (rainwater collection?). Its basically a local landmark now. I should apply for it to get city monument status
June 3, 2025 at 7:14 AM
There is an enormous water tank that's been sitting for months on a pavement in my neighborhood. The proposed use is a mystery (rainwater collection?). Its basically a local landmark now. I should apply for it to get city monument status
Dutch allotment problems, you send the family group chat a photo of all the weeds you dug up today and fail to notice the neighbours cannabis plant growing in the background
May 29, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Dutch allotment problems, you send the family group chat a photo of all the weeds you dug up today and fail to notice the neighbours cannabis plant growing in the background
It's the opening weekend of Rotterdams museum of migration and despite my usual cynicism about starchitecture this building is an undeniable sensation, a real exceeding of my expectations
May 18, 2025 at 12:28 PM
It's the opening weekend of Rotterdams museum of migration and despite my usual cynicism about starchitecture this building is an undeniable sensation, a real exceeding of my expectations
18m2 is not really true for NL, that's for short lets of max 1 year. The NL standard for studios is 24-50m2 net and 50-65m2 for 1 beds. I'm working on a project for a housing association, 37m2 is roughly their minimum for studios we're planning. I've lived a year in 18m2, it's not enough for homes.
May 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
18m2 is not really true for NL, that's for short lets of max 1 year. The NL standard for studios is 24-50m2 net and 50-65m2 for 1 beds. I'm working on a project for a housing association, 37m2 is roughly their minimum for studios we're planning. I've lived a year in 18m2, it's not enough for homes.