Join The Journey

In addition to practicing architecture, principal and founder of ROST Architects, Mitchell Rocheleau AIA, searches the world to learn more about the buildings and cities humans have created, from the modern era to pre-history. Through writing, expert interviews, and video documentation, we hope to make our journey available and accessible. Our mission is to understand the environments humans have created throughout history, learn from the successes and failures, and contribute to designing a better future.

Amsterdam: The Urban Design, History and Culture Behind "Venice of the North"

Most of what makes Amsterdam attractive to travelers can be attributed to the Dutch society of the 17th century, which we call the Dutch Golden Age. It was the age of artists like Rembrandt and Vermeer. This society transformed a swampy bog into one of the world's most beloved and charming cities. The artists of the Dutch Golden Age painted unapologetically realistic scenes of everyday life in their cities. Many of these scenes portray people in their homes and towns, performing daily life's unspectacular, mundane tasks together.