Tom Frantzen
Tom Frantzen has been working as an independent architect since 1997. He founded Frantzen et al architect’s bureau in 2003. His 'artistry' lies in his ability to assign unconventional meanings to the conventional products that architectural practice demands of him, while fulfilling the specified functional requirements in all respects. He meticulously analyses the questions that are put to him and unravels the cultural backgrounds on which they must have been based. This gives him a picture of the client's or the intended users' preconceptions. By taking these cultural backgrounds as his starting point and using his assignments to reveal them, he imbues the projects he works on with intrinsic cultural overtones. Rather than adding artistic qualities, Tom brings them to the surface.
Tom has taught architecture at several educational institutions, including the Academy of Architecture and the Technical University Eindhoven as a guest teacher at. He is an active member of various advisory committees.
Since 2008 he has been the chair of the Commissie Welstand en Monumenten Utrecht (Utrecht Building Aesthetics and Built Heritage Commission). The designs of Frantzen et al architects have won several prizes and awards and have been published in national and international publications.
Back in shape!
Academy of Architecture 2004–2005
Conceptual thought, which dominated the international architectural world in the 1990s, is no longer the sole paradigm exercising influence on the design process. There is once again enormous interest in form and authentic artistic working methods. Frantzen investigates past shifts in the study of form in architecture education and whether the contemporary nature and content of the field is in keeping with the post-conceptual climate. Is it desirable to boost the craftsmanship and the expressive technical abilities of students, or do contemporary creative strategies actually require a greater autonomy from the profession?
publications
essay 'Just do it', Academy of Architecture 2004–2005
archive
Capita Selecta lecture series
Research proposal Back in Shape