Year: 2025
Scope: concept & book design
Author: Didier El-Bacha
Format: XXX×XXXmm
Pages: 88
Scope: concept & book design
Author: Didier El-Bacha
Format: XXX×XXXmm
Pages: 88
RUIMTE AAN MENS EN DIER
Who do we design our buildings and cities for? Traditionally, architecture is primarily a human-centric discipline. Spaces are designed around human needs, comfort, and usage, while animals, plants, and ecosystems are often considered only as an afterthought – as constraints, (mandatory) compensatory measures, or merely as ‘add-ons.’ With Ruimte aan mens en dier (Space for Humans and Animals), we aim to invert this perspective.
For his final project in an intensive one-year Typography & Book course at the Plantin Institute, Mathieu wanted to work with architect Didier El-Bacha of HOP. regeneratieve architectuur to make a first prototype of a book about nature-inclusive architecture. Didier provided the research and content, while Mathieu developed the book’s concept and design.
The result was intentionally not a finished publication, but rather an initial investigation into how content, imagery, materials, and book design could collectively articulate this subject matter. They are currently looking for a publisher to create the full-length book.
Who do we design our buildings and cities for? Traditionally, architecture is primarily a human-centric discipline. Spaces are designed around human needs, comfort, and usage, while animals, plants, and ecosystems are often considered only as an afterthought – as constraints, (mandatory) compensatory measures, or merely as ‘add-ons.’ With Ruimte aan mens en dier (Space for Humans and Animals), we aim to invert this perspective.
For his final project in an intensive one-year Typography & Book course at the Plantin Institute, Mathieu wanted to work with architect Didier El-Bacha of HOP. regeneratieve architectuur to make a first prototype of a book about nature-inclusive architecture. Didier provided the research and content, while Mathieu developed the book’s concept and design.
The result was intentionally not a finished publication, but rather an initial investigation into how content, imagery, materials, and book design could collectively articulate this subject matter. They are currently looking for a publisher to create the full-length book.
These prototype books were printed and hand-bound in a limited edition of 6, each one with a different cover and several spine treatments.
The cover materials are cut up samples of Marmoleum (a brand name of natural linoleum made by Forbo Flooring Systems), on which the text has been laser printed.
