Joost Baljeu Dutch, 1925-1991

Joost Baljeu (1925-1991) was a visual artist who has been inspired by the avant-garde movements of the first half of the twentieth century, such as 'De Stijl'. Together with architect Dick van Woerkom he made a series of models in which they tried to apply the ideas of Theo van Doesburg on the integration of architecture and fine arts.

Baljeu followed training as an art teacher during World War II at the Institute of Applied Art in Amsterdam. After completing his military service he worked in a bookstore, and he painted in his spare time. Under the influence of the many avant-garde movements, Baljeu started to follow the currents into a more abstract style. In 1954 he gave up his job and full-time artist. In the same period he searched, in imitation of De Stijl, for opportunities to integrate architecture and visual arts.

Even after the collaboration with Van Woerkom, Baljeu continued to be interested in architecture and urban design. From 1973 until 1974 he worked on the "Housing System Utopian Project (HSUP)" in which he searched for a solution for the monotony of the functionalist house.

(via the Dutch Institute of Architecture)