‘In the beginning was the word’ - said C. at a certain time.

I had just said that language is power, about C.’s husband being safer working where he is because he’s also a linguistic connection between the Netherlands and Germany.

‘We should take it easy at this ruff times in our business. ‘

‘You must keep a job if you have one, anyhow.’

While ridding to the station in the beginning of our trip to Amsterdam, where we went to attend an exhibition showing the projects for a competition our office participated in, we were talking about living in the city centre, as we do in Rotterdam.  I said we have to come up with other strategies to be able to think when we live a life like this. Instead, when you have a suburban life, during your endless suburban trips it happens that in fact you have time to think.

On the train back from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, we were making conversation and somehow analyzing the venue. It felt like some kind of post-war talking when all is devastated around you but you are still alive.

She complained that, as it was clear in this venue, here architects don’t have a saying even about their own projects. But we agreed it’s in part our own fault because we always refrain from expressing our ideas. We don’t get involved. In the end it’s everything about pulling strings and paying the bills and that is less noble and nearly stupid. I was surprised that it happens even here or in Germany…

And well, we were just thinking together in our almost suburban trip around the Randstad.

While ridding alone to the supermarket and then home, I felt that at the end of the day you must be able to put your dreams into words. Otherwise it may not be worth dreaming.

Doing what we do is so much about that. You must still be able to dream, live among utopias, looking at things and imagining what they may turn into…

But then it must come into reality. And how do you make it? How can you help to bring it to reality? How do you convince people it’s going to be worth it? How can you even be sure about that? You just can’t.

That’s maybe why W., the urban planner, always has some sort of a nostalgic or powerless tone in her voice when she’s talking about everything. She knows nothing will become as perfect as she could ever strive for…