About arch.Maaik
arch.Maaik is a daily strip about the life of an architect named Archibald, covered by his biographer and employee arch. Mike Hermans. It follows Archibald, an architect who runs an architecture office together with his friend and engineer Gerald. They also employ staff wo are specialized in many disciplines of architecture and construction. Because of his profession Archibald interacts with contractors, clients, developers and other construction professionals...
Let's introduce ourselves and the others:
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ARCHIBALD, the architect Always dressed in a black suit, Archibald is a romantic architect, a dreamer who takes architecture very seriously. He's a man with a vision, but mostly a vision that the others don't share. He holds on to old values such as paper and pencil and his drawing board. One thing is certain, his view on life makes you think about it, with a smile or with a grin... |
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GERALD, the engineer Gerald is an engineering graduate, associate, colleague, neighbour and a faithful friend of Archibald. Contrary to Archibald, Gerald is a rational man. His primary task is to keep Archibald with both his feet on the ground. |
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MAAIK, Archibalds biographer Maaik is appointed by Archibald to cover his life through a daily strip and other media channels. This is not always easy because Archibald wants to double check every word and image that leaves the office. |
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RALPH, the intern The inexperienced but super-motivated and freshly graduated intern faces the harsh reality of the building world in Archibald's office. Exploitation by Archibald and a distinct generation gap between him and his internship supervisor cause the inevitable tensions. |
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MR. SHAN, the model builder The world's best model builder. Specialized in cardboard, he reproduces anything to any scale. He uses his precision knife like a musketeer's sword and his Oriental looks indicate a former career as origami artist. |
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FRED, the contractor Fred is the man who has to put Archibald's ideas into practice. He's a very practical man and hates architects with ideas that are impossible to carry out. No wonder that he often clashes with Archibald. |
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FRANK, the project developer Frank has no interest at all in architecture. The only reason why he develops projects is because of the money. Because he hasn't enough work and he has a family to support, Archibald is compelled to execute the wishes of this developing devil. |
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GEORGE, the bureaucrat George would rather be lazy than tired. He is slow and therefore outstanding in stalling files. He is also illogical, he doesn't know a thing about building and architecture (got transferred from another administration) and pretends to know everything better. In short, he is the typical municipal urban planning officer and always good for a pain in Archibald's neck. |
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JULIUS, the client To Archibald, clients are a necessary evil. He'd much prefer building without them. For Julius, everything is too expensive. He keeps asking for adaptations and cannot grasp Archibald's theories. To him, all houses are the same (equal to his parents' house) and that's how he wants to keep it. His Leitmotiv is "standardisation". |
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MARIA, the client's wife Shares the popular roots of her husband, but she's even worse. She only says superfluous things that have nothing to do with the subject on hand. A client is bad, but a client's spouse is even worse. |
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JOHN, the IT-manager Within Archibald's office, the software architect is a computer expert who is responsible for all the hard- and software. You can imagine how hard his job is if you know that Archibald hates computers. The software architect is a real specialist, a genuine computer nerd that every firm needs. |
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GOD, himself God is the supreme architect. He created the world in 7 days, but not always according to Archibald’s architectural insights. So, Archibald regularly goes to see God, complaining about the world He created and telling Him how lousy an architect He is. Archibald is convinced that he can do better and his mission in life is to redo and improve God’s work. |
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THE CONCEPT, the model The model embodies Archibald‘s concepts. Strong-minded and strong-willed, the model really wants to take part in this architectural quest during which it not only questions itself, but also Archibald. |
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CHARLOTTE, Archibald's wife Charlotte is married to Archibald. She's a practicing attorney at the bar. To the great annoyance of Archibald she is very rational and always refutes his theories on architecture. She is a woman who lives by the small print. no detail, architectural or not, will escape her attention. |
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ARCHIE, Archibald's son Archie wants to be everything his father is, but ten times better. Ever since he was a kid, he has been obsessed with architecture and he has but one goal in life: to become the world's best architect. |
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CHARLIE, Archibald's daughter While Archie takes after his father, Charlie takes after her mother but then to the extreme: she hasn't got any feeling for art or architecture. Consequently she always fights with her artistic brother. |
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GERRY, Gerald's son Although he doesn't always understand him, Gerry is Archie's best friend. The two of them made a secret pact in which they decided they're both going to make it in the construction world. |
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Ina, the interior architect Ina is a self-conscious and assertive personality who wants to shape all the insides of Archibald. At least, the bits and pieces Archibald is leaving her. But she wants more than to fill his leftovers. She is determined to increase her role within Archibalds office and architecture and design in particular. |
