HOMEOSTASIS

Invitation to Inspiration

*Homeostasis (noun) - the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes;

When you look at a city, you know, it looks so unique. You feel this kind of uniqueness, you know, and especially if you go from a big city to a small city or if you go from one country to another. Cities look very different, often. They even feel very different. You know, and they are, of course. They certainly are.

- Geoffrey West

Invitation to Inspiration

When I visit another town and walk through the foreign streets, I like to think of the new city as one gigantic organism, which looks and breathes in a completely new way. I like to observe its most important body cells, the people. How they cohabitate, how they make this organism function. And it makes me happy when I can feel its healthy functioning while being part of it. As an intruder at first, as a tourist, and finally as one of its body cells. 

Invitation to Inspiration

The harmonic atmosphere of the cities, as well as its external beauty, is always the reflection of something beautiful people carry inside them. In Amsterdam, it is the harmony of contrasts. Liberal and free spirited, settled and punctual. Shire during the day, Gotham city during the night. Surprising and bizarre, while  safe, clean and predictable, especially in its architecture . 

Invitation to Inspiration

You can feel this middle century vibe while passing the old streets, and in the next moment, its modernity and progressiveness strike you back. The love of nature is evident everywhere, even in the homes of this town. Plants, gardens, neat parks, clean water channels, the wide selection of organic food, just to start with. And the people naturally enjoy every bit of it. Cosy homes, painted interiors, wooden furnishing, bicycles everywhere. And also, you’ll see cats everywhere. Nice, polite cats. Clean and equal to the citizens. It should be no surprise. 

Invitation to Inspiration

Invitation to Inspiration

In the big picture, architecture is the art and science of making sure that our cities and buildings fit with the way we want to live our lives.

- Bjarke Ingels

But don’t be fooled by this free-spirited town. These people understand there are rules even when acting free-spirited, so when it comes to punctuality, work, traffic rules and respecting the laws , there are no mistakes. Without any pressure or aggression, you can let yourself flow into their daily and night routines, like the channels of the town, and you won't be bored. The beer, the clubs, the lights and sports recreation, hedonism at its best. 

Invitation to Inspiration

And one by one the nights between our separated cities are joined to the night that unites us.
- Pablo Neruda


Amsterdam is one kind creature, individual, the animal, and the gentlemen. Just imagine German tidiness, English appearance, and Jamaican soul. That is how a tourist could interpret the capital of Netherlands. Ask locals, and they might laugh at you.  Especially about the last part. But they’ll love it, and that is why Amsterdam is one lovely and healthy organism, and he knows it.

Invitation to Inspiration

I think the art fair is very much a form of urbanism. I think something really happens to the cities when such a fair happens. The city becomes an exhibition; it's amazing.

- Hans-Ulrich Obrist

Invitation to Inspiration

A.B.

Love, Invitation to Inspiration