Wall House #2 – Groningen
A house you have to walk around.
If you came here via the QR code from Siena, you’ve already seen one of the pictures. That’s nice. However, it’s only part of the story.
The Wall House #2 was designed in 1973 by the American architect John Hejduk and wasn’t built until after his death. It’s the only house from his series of three Wall Houses that was actually built. That alone makes it special. But you actually notice that even without knowing it.
I photographed the house in 2023. And at first, I did what you’re supposed to do with a building like this: I walked around it.
Several times.
The Wall House has the delightful quality of looking different from every angle. Just when you think you’ve found the right perspective, you take a few more steps—and start all over again. Eventually, it became clear that a single photo wouldn’t do this building justice.
The photographs were taken in a single day. The images took longer to develop.
Back at the computer, the second tour began. Perspectives became more precise, surfaces calmer; some elements disappeared, while others took on greater significance. Some images were created from multiple shots. Piece by piece, my view of the Wall House took shape.
As an architect, I’m not just interested in how a building looks. I’m interested in why it has the effect it does. In my photography, I try to find exactly that moment and develop it into a standalone image.
And so, a single day in Groningen turned into a series that kept me occupied for much longer. And that’s probably what makes this house so fascinating: you’re never quite done with it.
Frank Loddenkemper
Architect & Photographer
Architect & Photographer
