Kazemat

Kazemat is an expressionist display typeface designed by Ramiro Espinoza and inspired by a design created in 1927 by architect C. M. Bakker for the Nederlandschen Protestanten Bond (Dutch Protestant Union). The original lettering is characterized by strong contrasts, sharp angles, simplified geometric construction, and a dynamic rhythm typical of interwar Expressionist design, where typography served as a vehicle for emotion and visual impact.
As with many typefaces in the Brutal Types collection, Espinoza studied the structure and character of Bakker’s letterforms and translated them into a contemporary digital design. Rather than reproducing the poster lettering literally, he refined the forms, improved consistency, and expanded the character set for modern use, while preserving the tension and spontaneity of the source.
With its angular shapes and strong presence, Kazemat is well suited for posters, editorial design, cultural projects, branding, and visual identities that call for a bold and unconventional typographic voice. Rooted in early twentieth-century avant-garde design, it brings an expressionist sensibility into contemporary graphic practice.