ZUIDAS
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2002
PROGRAM: New headquarters for prominent European law firm; offices, conference room, terrace, lobby, restaurant
CLIENT: Zuidschans Development
SIZE: 17,800 sm
STATUS: in design
Over the next decade the Zuidas masterplan will create a new 21st century center for Amsterdam. International high-speed rail links will terminate at a new station, around which extensive urban functions including residential, commercial and cultural space will be developed. On a key site in this new urban center a triangular "Glass Flatiron in Two Scales" is projected. Containing 89 apartments, hybrid living/office lofts and retail space, the building offers unique possibilities for global living. With a short walk to the new station, and six minutes from Schiphol airport, one can effectively live a few hours away from London, Paris, Frankfurt or New York. Similarly the building will offer a home to peripatetic global citizens seeking a European base. The 17,800 square meters, eighteen-story high building is a Glass Flatiron characterized by two opposing scales of openings. Three openings in a "giant" urban scale offer shared terraces and elevated gardens for the residents, and locate the main entry to the building. The smaller "human" scale of openings create terraces for individual units. The syncopated disposition of these on each floor allows for maximum variation in the six basic apartment types while creating a unique rhythm on the building facades. The building mass is sheathed in a monolithic structurally-glazed curtain wall of greenish glass, while the openings find their expression in yellow membrane, vibrant against the cool overcast Dutch sky. The rhythmic counterpoint of flush glass and the yellow creates a unique urban experience.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2002
PROGRAM: New headquarters for prominent European law firm; offices, conference room, terrace, lobby, restaurant
CLIENT: Zuidschans Development
SIZE: 17,800 sm
STATUS: in design
Over the next decade the Zuidas masterplan will create a new 21st century center for Amsterdam. International high-speed rail links will terminate at a new station, around which extensive urban functions including residential, commercial and cultural space will be developed. On a key site in this new urban center a triangular "Glass Flatiron in Two Scales" is projected. Containing 89 apartments, hybrid living/office lofts and retail space, the building offers unique possibilities for global living. With a short walk to the new station, and six minutes from Schiphol airport, one can effectively live a few hours away from London, Paris, Frankfurt or New York. Similarly the building will offer a home to peripatetic global citizens seeking a European base. The 17,800 square meters, eighteen-story high building is a Glass Flatiron characterized by two opposing scales of openings. Three openings in a "giant" urban scale offer shared terraces and elevated gardens for the residents, and locate the main entry to the building. The smaller "human" scale of openings create terraces for individual units. The syncopated disposition of these on each floor allows for maximum variation in the six basic apartment types while creating a unique rhythm on the building facades. The building mass is sheathed in a monolithic structurally-glazed curtain wall of greenish glass, while the openings find their expression in yellow membrane, vibrant against the cool overcast Dutch sky. The rhythmic counterpoint of flush glass and the yellow creates a unique urban experience.
CREDITS
architect
– Steven Holl Architects
Steven Holl (design architect)
Masao Akiyoshi, Regina Chow, Li Hu, Stephen O'Dell, Ebbie Wisecarver (project team)
associate architects
– BSC Architecture
Tim Bade, Martin Cox (design architect)
local architect
– Claus en Kaan Architecten
project manager
– Infocus
structural engineer
– Goudstikker-DeVries
mechanical engineer
– Huygen Installatie Adviseurs BV
architect
– Steven Holl Architects
Steven Holl (design architect)
Masao Akiyoshi, Regina Chow, Li Hu, Stephen O'Dell, Ebbie Wisecarver (project team)
associate architects
– BSC Architecture
Tim Bade, Martin Cox (design architect)
local architect
– Claus en Kaan Architecten
project manager
– Infocus
structural engineer
– Goudstikker-DeVries
mechanical engineer
– Huygen Installatie Adviseurs BV