Eiland 7 Berichten uit de nieuwbouwwijk

Island 7

Theo Baart

Projects | Books

Eiland 7

tales from suburbia

2008 | Eiland 7 | Tales from Suburbia

In December 2004 Theo Baart moved with his family to a house just built in one of Hoofddorp’s brand-new neighborhoods. Two years before, potatoes were still being grown on the land.

In Eiland 7 / Tales from Suburbia he set out in search of the recipe for today’s Dutch residential development. Is the new neighborhood like fast food? Does everything have to look the same, or is there another way? And what happens when things are done differently?

Eiland 7 / Tales from Suburbia shows that the final result is determined by all sorts of coincidental factors. By continual switches in parties involved with the building process, for instance. Or by conflicts of interest between the project developer and the municipality.

Theo Baart visited farmers who sold their land and spoke with land buyers, project developers and architects. He photographed the new kitchens, the gardens and people who purchased homes on this man-made island. His neighbors talked about the houses they live in – and their mortgages.

All in all, this book renders a portrait of the Dutch middle class in its familiar habitat: the suburban village.