Sluishuis
This is the opportunity to add a monument to the city near Amsterdam’s city centre. A model for this urban extension, which makes the Pampusplan slip our minds. Or does it reopen the discussion? Is this the moment to combine all history’s ambitions in a new icon? A modern ‘statue of liberty’, combining all possible ecological, technological, sociological and political ideals.
- Location
- Netherlands
- City
- Amsterdam
- Year
- 2001
- Surface
- 4000 m²
- Status
- Competition
- Programmes
- Residential , Wellness
- Themes
- Architecture , Housing , Public
THE IDEAL
It's completely self-sustaining. A windmill, solar cells turning towards the ideal sun position, a water purifying facade, a clear swimming lake and double orientated dwellings. A column grid and high floors allow flexibility.
A mix of programmes, enough parking places, a direct connection to the public transport. Public spaces: a public swimming lake, a marina and boardwalks, a public ‘sky-plaza’.
RESTRICTIONAL ARCHITECTURE
Do financial and urbanistic restrictions justify this position? High ground price, high building costs and the obligation to provide cheap housing. Because of the fixed envelope a thick courtyard building seems to be the only financially viable possibility.
Is this still architecture, or is only restriction? These restrictions led to a concrete structure and a two-apartments-per-core organization.
Big apartments, small apartments, duplex, double’s, triple’s, studio’s, offices. The ultimate skeleton for individual freedom. Multiple choice architecture with marble, brick, glass, cage, mesh, empty, bird nests, advertising-panels (which improve the feasibility). But is this acquired freedom really freedom? A ‘statue of liberty’ of nowadays?
Two proposals were designed providing very different solutions to the set of issues. Ultimately the chosen option was the aforementioned restrictional courtyard building.
Gallery
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Credits
- Architect