Fedde Reeskamp (De Architectenkamer)

Fedde Reeskamp, an architect originally from Amsterdam and now based in Haarlem, studied architecture at TU Delft and previously worked at the now-defunct firm De Architectenkamer. This small Haarlem-based practice was known for its emphasis on an "economy of means"—a design philosophy championed by Reeskamp that sought maximum impact with minimal visual noise. He was not interested in following a rigid design methodology, but instead believed architecture should tell a story, as exemplified in his design for the Selimiye Mosque.

“When designing the dome,” Reeskamp recalls, “I became inspired by scientific publications from Prof. Mick Eekhout and Prof. Thijs Asselbergs on ‘Zappy-glass’, which explored the potential of glass-only constructions that had yet to be realized.” The idea of a glazed dome might have seemed ambitious, but the mosque’s client responded with enthusiasm. “I was extremely pleased with their request for a modern yet recognizable building—especially since most mosques built in the Netherlands are extremely conservative.”

I became inspired by scientific publications from Prof. Mick Eekhout and Prof. Thijs Asselbergs on ‘Zappy-glass’, which explored the potential of glass-only constructions that had yet to be realized.

Reeskamp’s concept found immediate support from Octatube, a company he had first encountered during his studies at TU Delft. “After presenting my concept to Octatube, they were immediately enthusiastic and recognized the feasibility of the structural idea. I knew from the start they were the only company capable of engineering and realizing this glazing structure. All the expectations I had became reality—my experience with Octatube was highly positive.”

Though De Architectenkamer is no longer active, its legacy lives on in projects like the Selimiye Mosque, where minimalism meets narrative, and restraint gives rise to architectural innovation.