As part of BlogTourCGN, I spent a day in Amsterdam on a design walk curated by Dutch interiors magazine Eigen Huis & Interieur. I’ve already told you about Hotel Droog, and now it’s time to tell you about one of the other stops; The Frozen Fountain. We were very privileged to spend some time with the co-founder of the shop’s current incarnation; Cok de Rooy, who gave us a brief introduction to the space.
Frozen Fountain is both the 1930s nickname for skyscrapers and a mathematical term used in perspective drawing in architecture. Cok says they just liked the name. Originally founded in 1985 on Utrechtsestraat in Amsterdam, the intention of the founder at that time, Dick Dankers, was to bring designers and craftsmanship together in order to create and present original collections.
Cok de Rooy joined Dick Dankers in 1992, and a new Frozen Fountain was born, coinciding with a move to a meandering, spacious, light-filled, location at Prinsengracht 629, which is where they are today.
Their focus moved away from craftsmanship and more towards pure design – Cok de Rooy had contacts with various art academies, which played a big part in the development of their venture. The Netherlands has a strong tradition of self-producing designers, and it seemed that a hotbed of talent all came together in one place at that time; Piet hein Eek being a notable example.
Cok de Rooy said: “We had all these exhibitions and it was great fun, and that was what we were doing in the first place, but when a customer came in and said “I’m interested in a sofa”, we’d say “Well, there’s a sofa…” and carry on with the exhibition – it was not a great business model! So we changed that, and decided to have a more commercial base, to do it more professionally”.
The range of products and furniture at The Frozen Fountain is still an inspiring and eclectic mix with that sense of zeitgeist. The furniture collection is combined with one-off objects or limited editions from designers such as Jurgen Bey, Marcel Wanders, Ineke Hans, Hella Jongerius and Studio Job. Walls are hung with photography from young talent or established names such as Teun Hocks, Jannes Linders, Anton Corbijn and Inez van Lamsweerde.
Having established a successful business model, the team are able to have fun with installations and commissioned artworks again. Sitting alongside the permanent furniture collection, installations can be organised quickly to reflect the mood of the moment, and commissioning art offers the opportunity for an in-depth response to a particular subject.
It’s a space in which you can really feel the heritage of Dutch design, but far from weighing heavily, this sense of history provides a springboard for new ideas and new designers – there is a lightness and a freedom, which is really inspiring.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- out and about :: hotel droog
- out and about :: designs of the year
- out and about :: light show
- out and about :: habitat
With thanks to Modenus and BlogTourCGN sponsors, Miele, Blanco, Mr Steam, Du Verre Handware, Axor and NKBA.
Love the poof!