Cadettenschool te Alkmaar 1893

This photograph, "Cadettenschool te Alkmaar," by C. van der Aa and J. Chrispijn, presents a study in architectural form and material transformation. The composition is divided into two primary structures—a completed building to the left and another under construction to the right. The completed building is defined by the use of geometric shapes to give structure to a familiar form. In contrast, the building under construction reveals an intricate latticework of scaffolding, obscuring its final shape and form. The use of water as a reflective surface extends the buildings creating an immersive dialogue between reality and its mirrored echo. The photograph invites a deeper consideration of how architecture is not simply about creating spaces, but also engaging with the ongoing process of constructing meaning, identity, and history.