Historic Albert Heijn villa – with a garden by Mien Ruys!
Sometimes designs by Mien Ruys pop up unexpectedly in the news. This time in the North Holland daily newspaper and The Telegraaf. It concerns a special villa on the Provincialeweg in Zaandam, which is currently for sale on Funda.
Timeless design by Mien Ruys
In 1952, Albert Heijn, grandson of the supermarket chain's founder of the same name, commissioned architect David Zuiderhoek to design this villa. The location was perfect for Heijn (1927-2011), being close to the supermarket group's then-headquarters on the Westzijde. The home, in the English country house style, was completed in 1955. For the design of the 600-square-meter garden, he enlisted none other than Mien Ruys. The garden is a fine example of her credo: 'seeking the clear line' and the application of a proven range of plants. Principles that still form the core of Mien's firm: Buro Mien Ruys. Here, her philosophy is safeguarded and continued.
It is remarkable to see that these types of historical designs are still visible and appreciated. They demonstrate how timeless a good garden design can be.
Photos: Funda & Noordhollands Dagblad
Legacy for modern landscape architecture
Mien Ruys started her design firm in Amsterdam in 1943. But long before that, she experimented with plants, materials, and design. To gain experience with the plants grown at the nursery, Mien Ruys experimented with sun- and shade-loving plants in her parents' orchard and vegetable garden. Those first two gardens still exist: the wild garden and the old experimental garden with the large border. Over the years, new experiments followed. A well-known experiment from the 1960s, the period in which Albert Heijn had his villa and garden designed, was the trial involving the use of railway sleepers. This led to a trend in the use of railway sleepers in Dutch gardens. This earned her the nickname 'Sleeper Mien'. The use of the washed-out gravel tile (grion tile) is also an idea of Mien Ruys. These experiences were initially important for her landscape architecture firm and played a major role in her work. Mien Ruys passed away in 1999 at the age of 94 in her birthplace, Dedemsvaart.
Mien Ruys is one of the pioneers of modern garden architecture, an icon. Her influence and legacy still resonate through the gardens of the Netherlands, and we honor that.
Other current affairs
Historic Albert Heijn villa – with a garden by Mien Ruys!
Sometimes designs by Mien Ruys pop up unexpectedly in the news. This time in the North Holland daily newspaper and The Telegraaf. It concerns a special villa on the Provincialeweg in Zaandam, which is currently for sale on Funda.
Greening the schoolyard? Bring the play area to life
Many schoolyards are still grey and functionally designed. They consist mainly of tiles and offer little challenge or experience for children. At the same time, problems such as heat stress, flooding, and a lack of physical activity are increasing.
Healing environment in healthcare
Outdoor spaces at healthcare institutions have a positive and sometimes even healing effect on people. A well-thought-out garden design ensures that residents go outside more often, patients recover faster, and staff experience less stress. In the healthcare sector, such a garden is also referred to as a healing garden (the outdoor space) or a healing environment (both indoors and outdoors).