Marinke Steenhuis, Paul Meurs – Beyond the Dikes

Book coverMarinke Steenhuis, Paul Meurs – Beyond the Dikes
Book coverMarinke Steenhuis, Paul Meurs – Beyond the Dikes
Book coverMarinke Steenhuis, Paul Meurs – Beyond the Dikes
Book coverMarinke Steenhuis, Paul Meurs – Beyond the Dikes

This year’s submissions included several that look specifically at themes associated with the Netherlands, such as air, light, and public space and its management. This excellently laid out book is a beautiful example of the last of these: a well-executed survey of the problems attendant on life in a land of water and waterways. Its excellent cartography and infographics, ingenious reference aids such as a sophisticated vertical depth scale up against the fore-edge, robust editing and careful design all contribute to make it accessible to a broad audience. It may seem easy, but this is quite complex material, and it is also many-levelled down to the smallest detail – though the panel did wonder what the added value of some of the subheads was.

The superb photographs are beautifully printed on uncoated paper, making this almost a photobook. In terms of design the cover departs somewhat from the tone of the interior, but thanks to (among other things) the fine ‘watery-looking’ metallic cover material one is easily seduced into picking the book up and opening it – despite its weight.

 

Edition: 2017
Language: English / Dutch, translated by Vivien Reid, Clare Wilkinson
Final editor: Bookmakers
Publisher: nai010 publishers, Rotterdam
Graphic designer: Beukers Scholma, Haarlem, photography by Tineke Dijkstra, Siebe Swart, cartography and infographics by Mijs Cartografie en Vormgeving
Lithographer: NPN Drukkers, Breda
Printer: NPN Drukkers, Breda
Binder: Abbringh, Groningen
Size book block (w x h x d in mm): 240 x 300 x 22
Number of pages: 256 p.
Print run: 4,250
Price: € 39.95
ISBN: 978 94 6208 384 4 (E), 978 94 6208 403 2 (e-book) / 978 94 6208 383 7 (D), 978 94 6208 402 5 (e-book)
Font and foundry: Berthold Akzidenz Grotesk (Linotype), Wilson (The Foundry)
Binding style: sewn hardback with a flat spine
Material: 150gsm Edixion Offset (Antalis) (interior), 150gsm Edixion Offset (Antalis) (endpapers), 130gsm Gmund Cover Metallic Micro 704 Color 001/B1 (Gebr. Schabert & Co) over 2 mm grey board (binding)