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| Admar van Schalen rolls up his sleeves | | Print | |
| Written by Wanda NL | |
 Admar graduated from the Eindhoven University of Technology in 1999 at
the department of Architecture. Among a majority of theory oriented
students, Admar was interested more in using his hands. Three artist
from Eindhoven: Ralph Brodruck, John Körmeling and Henk Visch came to
the rescue with the workshop "Construction 1:1". In "De Fabriek" 11
students including Admar were given 2600 meters of steel reinforcement
rods and two CO2 welding machines to experiment and do whatever they
came up with. Admar was sold to the making itself. As a serious entrepreneur I met Admar working on Saturday morning, a time of the day when most of us do shopping or sleep late. His house, typical for the first big expansion of Eindhoven with the rise of Philips, feels like a big construction site. At this moment I catch him working on his computer. But renovating the place and doing new experiments like welding plastic follow each other seamlessly in here. Considering he is not in his workshop in Asten.During his study, Admar tried to use his hands as often as possible. Not in typical student jobs like serving in a bar or being one of many assistants at the university, but as a construction-worker and a galvaniser in a steel components factory. So with the diploma in the pocket, he was ready to do his first creation. He made a canal-bike that can be used to give up to 15 kids big fun. Things started rolling, and together with Ernst Dullemond he started a workshop in an old pizza factory. When things got bigger they were able to rent a well equipped workshop in Asten. The name of his company was derived from the two aspects of his work. The word "Architecture" and the Dutch word for construction-worker (Bouwvakker) were combined into "Archivakkers", a good name for a company that designs and realises your "tailor-built" costume. Whether you need a lamp, furniture, a kitchen or a garden house, you will be presented a unique and smart solution. At the moment his business runs very well. It is a challenge for Admar to do all the work himself, as he is not into hiring his first employee yet. Which means he needs to make better plans and digital models in advance, exploit skills of cad-cam operating subcontractors and make self-assembly by his clients (partly) posible. A short summary of his style: things have to look good, he should be able to make it himself, things have to function well and manufacturing may not be too complicated. Are there no limitations in what is possible? "One thing", Admar says, "I only make something when the parts fit in my van". 
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