Dom Hans van der Laan chair with Open Arms for Raadhuis Budel.

The Netherlands c. 1962-66.

Ash, copper nails, black enameled steel legs.

Raadhuis Budel (Budel Town Hall) was designed in 1962 according to the principles of the Plastic Number by Dom Hans van der Laan. Jan de Jong was the architect for the project, which was completed in 1966. The building still exists however it was completely renovated in 1997. Much of the furniture was destroyed, though a few residents of Budel saved pieces from the containers they were removed in.

Dimensions: 24.25” width, 20” depth, 42” height, 19” seat height

About Dom Hans van der Laan (1904 - 1991):

Dutch Benedictine monk, architect, and leading figure of the Bossche School, Dom Hans van der Laan developed a new vision for architecture from within the confines of the monastery, completely uninfluenced by discussions in the world of architecture and design.

Not perceiving the golden ratio to be relevant to the field, van der Laan developed a theory of the ‘plastic number’, which he developed over decades by methodically studying the rhythms, rules and proportions found in nature. The mathematics of beauty. 

Approached from a philosophical, theological and technological perspective, his architecture and furniture examines the primeval origin of architectural principles and the fundamental essence of the form. On both a theoretical and practical level, van der Laan sought to give significance and importance to simplicity. A voice to silence, a form to the void.

If van der Laan’s innovative work is characterized by an all embracing simplicity, numbers are the only decoration present. These numbers govern all formal choices and establish a relationship between the parts but, once used, disappear without a trace, leaving only the invisible harmony that permeates. 

Additional information on the work of Dom Hans van der Laan can be found here.

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