A Documentary by André de Laat

The task of the Chief Government Architect of the Netherlands is to promote the architectural quality of government buildings and to advise the government on thorny issues related to spatial planning and our living environment. The challenge of this role is to be both a creative thinker and an initiator of feasible plans.

From 2015 to 2021, this position was held by architect and urban planner Floris Alkemade. The camera follows him on his mission to address the rapid changes in our urban and rural environments by developing creative solutions. In this view, urgent societal issues must receive more attention: “We will get stuck if we continue this way. The land suffers from pollution. Soils are increasingly depleted. The climate is changing. We must change course.”

Independent filmmaker André de Laat followed Floris Alkemade behind the scenes for three years. What does the Chief Government Architect do? Who is the person temporarily holding this unique position? What does he want to achieve?

The documentary shows how Floris Alkemade organizes competitions for the renewal of city districts and the countryside, and how he takes a stand during the turmoil surrounding the renovation of the Binnenhof and the construction of the Holocaust Names Memorial in Amsterdam.

Running time: 61 minutes

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