Strijp-S

Industry as backdrop

Strijp-S in Eindhoven is what happens when a large factory complex is not demolished but redeveloped. For decades this was the heart of Philips, a closed city within the city. Today designers, students and visitors move between the brick buildings and tall warehouses. For photographers, that is interesting. The industrial bones are still visible, but the place is alive.

Torenallee is the axis everything revolves around. On both sides stand imposing buildings from the early twentieth century, with large window sections, weathered facades and concrete details that ask to be shot up close. People walk through, cycle, sit outside. That gives you both architectural and street photography at the same location.

Light and season

The site works throughout the year. In summer the golden hour does well, when the low light makes the brick-red facades even warmer. In winter you get mist or overcast skies more readily, which suits a quieter, more graphic approach. Cloudy weather softens the hard shadows you would otherwise find between the buildings.

Pay attention to the window sections in the older buildings. In overcast conditions they reflect diffusely; in sunshine you can catch interesting mirror images. The tall facades also cast fine shadow patterns on the ground floor, especially in the morning when the sun is still low.

Compositions and focal lengths

A 35mm or 50mm lens works comfortably for street photography on Torenallee itself. If you want to emphasise the facades and the vertical lines of the buildings, a 24mm or, from a little further back, a 28mm gives you more room. Keep your camera level, or make a deliberate choice for a strong angle, but avoid the half-hearted tilt that serves no purpose.

The inner areas and alleyways between the buildings are worth exploring too. There you find graffiti, steel structures and forgotten corners you do not see on the main axis. Just walk the site. You discover the most on foot.

Practical

Parking is available near the site, but Strijp-S is also easy to reach by bike from the centre of Eindhoven. The site is publicly accessible. During events such as Dutch Design Week or Strp Festival it gets busy, which creates opportunities for crowd photography but also more noise in the background. Outside those periods it is quieter, especially on weekday mornings.

Sources and further reading

• Strijp-S officiële website
• Dutch Design Week
• Wikipedia: Strijp-S