Erik Kruug's Aerial Photographs Reveal Living Between Land and Water in the Netherlands

Erik Kruug's stunning aerial imagery captures the Loosdrecht Lakes in the Netherlands, where residences blend into a patchwork of canals and lakes. Situated between Amsterdam and Utrecht, these artificial lakes were formed during peat extraction in the 16th century. For the locals, boating is vital, with homes extending onto jetties and gardens. The images depict a scattered residential pattern, with several houses almost encircled by water. While the lakes are used for recreation and are ecologically safeguarded under the Natura 2000 network, human activities have impacted water quality. Kruug’s photography emphasizes the distinctive settlement created by the relationship between land and water, featured in designboom's MODES OF HABITATION chapter.