The uneven and rugged surface in this project by Studio Anne Holtrop is neither from decadence or damage. They are the intentionally designed cracks presenting the studio’s idea of ‘material gesture’ which is using the material in a creative way.
TEXT: PRATCHAYAPOL LERTWICHA
PHOTO COURTESY OF STUDIO ANNE HOLTROP
(For Thai, press here)
The uneven surface and rugged edges of the building in Suq Al-Qaysariya, a long standing market in the city of Muharraq, Bahrein, could easily lead one to believe that they were a result of a manmade action. The deterioration looks as if someone deliberately smashed the building’s surface or that it was damaged by some sort of animal. But in reality, these traces are what Studio Anne Holtrop intended to create.
The architecture firm with offices based in both the Netherlands and Bahrein, designs the commercial building, which is built as a part of the restoration and regeneration of Suq Al-Qaysariya, one of the kingdom’s oldest and most important pearl markets, and is part of Muharraq’s significant architectural legacy. The revitalization plan of Suq Al-Qaysariya includes the conservation of existing shops and buildings, and the design and construction of new buildings to accommodate new activities and businesses to help the ancient Suq regain its livelihood.
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Before the building turned out the way it looks, Anne Holtrop was initially assigned to design the structure using a locally sourced material, coral stone, as the principal construction material of the original buildings. After the design was developed to a certain point, Holtrop felt that coral stone could be too much of an easy solution, leading him to experiment with the use of concrete. Sand was roughly poured inside the molds for the casting of the concrete slabs, consequentially creating uneven edges and surfaces, reflecting the characteristics of coral stone but with a fresher and unique visual. Meanwhile, the new structures blend surprisingly well with the surrounding old buildings.
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This is one of the works that reflect Studio Anne Holtrop’s ‘material gesture’ philosophy and its emphasis on the curated expression of materials that is consequential of an experimental process with no specific or definite final outcome. This particular philosophy focuses on coincidental rather than precisely calculated occurrences. It’s evident from the casting process where sand is used as the key element in the molding, resulting in the concrete slabs with distinctive, unpredictable and original patterns. The approach also extends to the use of concrete as a replacement of locally found coral stone for the construction, which is indicative of the work process where the final outcome was never really predetermined.