My Journey so far
I am Dutch but fell in love with my wife so, hello Malaysia! Because of Malaysia’s vernacular architecture houses I fell in love with the same concept of traditional houses anywhere in the world. They have stunning architecture and a unique relationship with their native environments, opposing modern development or “concrete jungles”, pollution, stress and other damage.
Throughout my career I have experienced many lifestyles with heights and lows. The last more recent years, I have been in private corporate education. I believe that modern education prioritizes outcome over process, human values and how we should live peacefully with each other and our environment. Private corporate education offers a curriculum but the organization of such schools teach future generations all about performance stress, teaching to test, KPIs and a high teacher turnover. People are no corporate assets that need to perform all the time!
Working in such environments was mentally challenging. The stress, traffic, pollution, concrete and not seeing my own kids growing up. I wanted to go home. Selling my time to a property developer owning a school to be a ‘middle manager’ (read school principal) is draining. Teaching rich people’s kids at schools my children can’t go to is wrong. Nobody in my family felt at home, and it was not the life I wanted.
Then, in Feb 2025 I had this vision. So many of us are slaves of systems we don’t want. So many of us need a place called ‘home’ but it’s out of reach. I was lucky enough to have a home to put my feet on the table. My parents always had her door open for me to come home to. Unconditionally. Though, I can’t invite you to my home I have now for my children, it is becoming my mission to reach out to you by sharing my story to connect, to build human relationships and ultimately, for you to enjoy my art.
Nostalgic architecture in serene semi-rural landscapes, uses the old and traditional ways for the benefit and protection of the family, environment, and in which taking care of each other was, and still is, so important. Those valuable homes, places to return to when you want to take a break are almost forgotten, yet they reveal a sense of calm so sophisticated which makes everyone feel at ease.
My journey has only just begun. I invite you to explore this together with me. Be inspired, give it your meaning, and have this magic at your home.
I have yet to learn so much, but not much to offer in a store yet. But I do like learning with coffee. Following my journey is for free, so is a chat. Coffee? A coffee is $3 only and greatly appreciated!
https://ko-fi.com/danielarendzen/tip
Talk to you soon!
