Submarine Channel

Articulating the strength of existing features and removing all the clutter, to create a clear, serene and spacious landscape. This is the way Michael van Gessel has been working for over 30 years, designing and renovating parks, historic sites and urban master plans. With his strong sense for historic qualities, Van Gessel transforms the landscape in a way that makes it seem like nothing has changed.

Among numerous other projects, Van Gessel has spent the past ten years working on Twickel, a centuries old park in the east of The Netherlands. Almost exactly every one hundred years, the layout of the park is altered. From Renaissance to Baroque, followed by Rococo and Romantic landscape styles. Notwithstanding the fact that he is, and has long been, a major influence on the development of landscape architecture, Van Gessel remains a curious and modest man, with a very down-to-earth approach to his practice.

Credits
Director: Noud Holtman, Camera: Stef Tijdink, Sound: Benny Jansen, Editing: Casper Sikken, Commissioning editor Submarine: Geert van de Wetering, Production Submarine: Olivia van Leeuwen, Production assistance: Marah Haan, Voice Over: Lotje Sodderland, Music/sound design: Big Orange, Produced by Submarine, Commissioned by DutchDFA.

Dutch Profiles is a series of short documentaries produced by Submarine commissioned by DutchDFA about architects, graphic, product and fashion designers in the Netherlands.
dutchdesign.submarinechannel.com

Dutch Profiles focuses on the conceptual, context-oriented and research-based practice of Dutch designers and includes interviews with, among others: MVRDV, 2012 Architects, Jurgen Bey, Claudy Jongstra, Gerard Unger, Paul Mijksenaar, Marlies Dekkers, Alexander van Slobbe and G-Star.