Project Krinkels

However, before I could elaborate on my Night Watch inspiration, I was asked by architect Paul de Ruiter, ‘Is it possible to lay parquet in the form of annual rings?’ An image appeared in my head, and yes, I thought it was indeed possible. After some time, I received the assignment, completely free to devise something that had never been done before. My team and I had to literally reinvent the wheel. After the first of the parquet jobs, we looked at each other in despair: What had we begun? Nevertheless, we continued and the result gradually became visible. In the end, 33,000 meters of 9mm wide parquet strips were processed into the floor. Then Ruud Krinkels asked me, ‘Does your floor match with the oak covering the steps of the monumental staircase?’

Commissioned by architect Paul de Ruiter, Jakko Woudenberg 'floors' the impressive Krinkels BV reception hall in Breda. Not your average floor, but round with inlaid annual rings that run naturally through the monumental stairs. An enormous puzzle, but all the pieces fit together.

It won him the prestigious American WFB Design Award (and the cover of a US magazine).