Strijp-R Eindhoven Piet Hein Eek

What is Strijp-R in Eindhoven

Strijp-S is a well-known hipster-haven in one of Eindhoven’s former factory neighborhoods. Strijp-R, the name of the neighboring area, is less known, but everybody knows it’s main attraction: the huge terrain of Piet Hein Eek, one of Holland’s most famous designers.

Rows of plywood stools. On the left a series with artworks of great painters.

I knew of him and of his work since he started and I am a long-time admirer.

Who is Piet Hein Eek

His fame started with a scrapwood cupboard in 1990.

Lots of scrap wood furniture. Can I have that cupboard with the glass doors, please?!

His choice for this material was a reaction against the prevalent craving for flawlessness that was dominating at that time. People loved his cupboards, cabinets, tables and other furniture made of unfinished scrapwood. Soon there came versions in which the imperfect scrap wood with it’s irregular paint was covered with a thick layer of super glossy lacker.

Glossy scrapwood tables and look at those fab lampshades!

A different look, which also turned out to be a hit amongst clients.
From there on the sky was the limit with designs and furniture in all sorts of materials, styles and used techniques.

Wow, furniture made with industrial metal. Super cool!

Visiting Piet Hein Eek in Strijp-R

Overwhelming

I expected something big, bold and beautiful, but what I found blew me away. His terrain and everything on it is XXL BIG, BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL! The magnitude of it all is un-Dutch and impressive. Very gutsy!

The terrain, the buildings, the designs, the furniture…. totally overwhelming!

On this wall near the entrance you find a map of the terrain and the functions that are represented.

Welcoming

The transparency and open attitude shows confidence, trust and is welcoming. “Do you want to take pictures? Sure, go ahead.” Everything is visible and open (aka a lot of glass), so you can look into the workshops, office spaces, shop and showrooms.

I was there in a weekend, so nobody was working in the huge studios.

The colorful and cute Piet Hein Eek shop.

As a visitor you feel treated like a trustworthy, mature person. You can wander freely through the endless floors, rooms and spaces, taking your time to absorb it all.

YOU can have the orange and blue furniture, but all the metal cabinets and the sea green kitchen? MINE!

What a delight! Long opening hours and open 7 days per week; cool!

Art and craft

The quantity, quality and diversity of the products is enormous. There seems to be no end to the creativity, craftsmanship and artisticity of Piet Hein Eek. From time to time he works together with other artists and designers. And you will come across creations and products from others in his showroom and shop, here and there.

Oh, wow, this whole living area…. The enormous couch with all the different cushions and all the PET bottle lamps; want want want! Yes, have a closer look at the lampshades; they are made from recycled PET bottles with a raffia shade around it. How original and unique is that!?

I am not exaggerating when I say that what I saw regularly took my breath away.

Overall concept

I love the overall concept, bringing together all the aspects and functions of his business in one location. Piet Hein Eek added a beautiful, huge restaurant to ‘the package’, as well as an event space, where e.g. a tango-salon is organized twice a year. On the terrain you also find patisserie Pinkie’s.

What an entrepreneur, Piet Hein Eek, and what a designer! If you live at an acceptable driving distance, then a visit to this location alone justifies a trip to Eindhoven, as far as I’m concerned.

What do you think? Did I convince you to visit Piet Hein Eek in Strijp-R?