Oosterdok, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
The ARchitecture Centre
AMsterdam (ARCAM) needed a significantly larger accommodation. Therefore a wonderful location close to the Oosterdok was allocated to this promotional institute.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
In the vicinity of
Renzo Piano’s New Metropolis was a small pavilion also designed by him that was going to be demolished. The columns and some of the floors needed to be integrated in the new design.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
Reuse of foundation parts was not the only limitation laid upon the architect. Consultation in the early stages of the design process of various parties (among others, two successive government architects) resulted in a maximum building envelope. This outline provided a trapezoidal building volume up to three storeys high.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
In addition three important requirements had to be taken into account. First, the view of the pavilion from the Maritime Museum needed to be utmost modest. This providing the possibility to lower the waterfront façade compared to the street façade at the Prins Hendrikkade. Second, the street façade needed to represent a closed character and at the same time the building should open up on the waterfront. Last but not least it was demanded that the pavilion would be a compact monolith.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
Despite, or thanks to, this strict package of requirements an unprecedented shape emerged, turning the architecture centre into a landmark.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
The new pavilion is indeed a humble and compact three-storey building. On the street level an exhibition space is located. The upper floor is fitted with glass partitions, creating an attic-like atmosphere. On the waterfront, at the quay level, a multipurpose space for meetings, discussions and reception of groups (classes, excursions). The internal openness is remarkable. All the different levels are linked by voids, in a way that all the spaces are a part of a perceptible larger entity.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
The performance of the façades is mainly due to the ubiquitous application of the KalZip skin. This folded seam method is ideal for creating singularly curved surfaces. The zinc-coated aluminium strips form a continuous plane curling itself all around the building mass.
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
 |
| Photo © Courtesy of Luuk Kramer |
The different façades all have their own distinctive perspective. For example the folded skin combined with the bevelling glass façade results in a spectacular entrance. On the other hand the east side displays a most austere view. The waterfront view reveals the soul of the pavilion through the curtain glass, barely showing the structural steelwork. In this view the layered organization is visualised in the elevation.
 |
| situation plan--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| site plan--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
The peculiar sculptural shape of the pavilion, despite its unobtrusiveness and small dimensions, provides just enough attention in the monumental setting of the Oosterdok.
Description from the Architects:
 |
| quay level plan--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| street level plan--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| floor level plan--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| roof plan--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| east elevation--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| north elevation--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| south elevation--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| west elevation--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| section 1--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| section 2--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| section 3--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| detail 1--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| detail 2--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| detail 3--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| detail 4--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
 |
| detail 5--drawing © Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architekten |
Video: Amsterdam Centre For Architecture ARCAM in Amsterdam by Rene van Zuuk, 2003.
Filmed by ARCHITECTUUR.TV, 2011. Visit www.architectuur.tv for more architecture videos.
Project Data
Project name: ARCAM - ARchitecture Centre AMsterdam
Location: ARCAM, Prins Hendrikkade 600 1011 VX Amsterdam, Netherlands
Program: Exhibition and multipurpose spaces for architectural promotional institute
Site area: 300 m2
Floor area: 477 m2
Built-up area: 211 m2
Planning: 1999
Construction: 2002
Completion: 2003
Cubage: 2860 m3
Net building costs: € 1.6 Million
The people
Client: Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Gemeente Amsterdam / NL
Architect: René van Zuuk Architekten
Structural Engineer: Advies en Ingenieursbureau Van der Laar
Building contractor: H.J.Jurrïens b.v.
Steel structure: Moeskops Constructiebedrijf b.v.
Roof: Hafkon b.v. / Kalzip • Glass facade: Blitta b.v.
Glass facade: Blitta b.v., Venray
Electrical services: Staal Dekker en Ronday
Ventilation: Goorhuis Installatietechniek b.v.
Interior: Starec Design b.v.
Note>>Location in this map, It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
Related Books
