Marien

Marien is a modular, neo-constructivist display typeface designed by Ramiro Espinoza and inspired by a piece of 1930s lettering found on a façade stone at Mariënburg 92 in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The original inscription reflects the interwar emphasis on clarity, structure, and reduction, combining an architectural presence with an experimental approach to form. Its concise geometry and rhythmic construction place it within a broader European modernist tradition shaped by functionalism and early constructivist ideas.
Espinoza analyzed the proportional system and modular logic of the original letters and translated these principles into a contemporary digital typeface. Rather than reproducing the forms verbatim, he refined the geometry, resolved inconsistencies, and expanded the character set to support current typographic needs. The resulting design preserves the disciplined, architectural quality of its source while offering improved consistency and flexibility.
With its clear structure and modernist character, Marien is well suited for posters, editorial design, branding, signage, exhibitions, websites, electronic appliances, toys, and cultural projects that benefit from a strong, constructed typographic voice rooted in early twentieth-century architectural lettering.