René van Zuuk Architekten B.V.

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© René van Zuuk Architekten

ARCAM

René van Zuuk Architekten

AREA
300.0 m²

YEAR
2003

LOCATION
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

CATEGORY
Pavilion

Text description provided by architect.

The Architecture Centre Amsterdam (ARCAM) needed a significantly larger accommodation.

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© René van Zuuk Architekten
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© René van Zuuk Architekten

Therefore a wonderful location close to the Oosterdok was allocated to this promotional institute.

In the vicinity of Renzo Piano's New Metropolis was a small pavilion also designed by him that was going to be demolished.

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© René van Zuuk Architekten
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The columns and some of the floors needed to be integrated in the new design.

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. In addition three important requirements had to be taken into account.

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© René van Zuuk Architekten
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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.

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© René van Zuuk Architekten
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© René van Zuuk Architekten

Second, the street facade 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.

Despite, or thanks to, this strict package of requirements an unprecedented shape emerged, turning the architecture centre into a landmark.

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© René van Zuuk Architekten
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© René van Zuuk Architekten

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.

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© René van Zuuk Architekten
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The performance of the facades 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.

The different facades all have their own distinctive perspective. For example the folded skin combined with the bevelling glass facade results in a spectacular entrance. On the other hand the east side displays a most austere view.

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© René van Zuuk Architekten
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© René van Zuuk Architekten

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.

The peculiar sculptural shape of the pavilion, despite its unobtrusiveness and small dimensions, provides just enough attention in the monumental setting of the Oosterdok.

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René van Zuuk Architekten B.V.
T +31 36 5379139
René van Zuuk Architekten B.V.
De Fantasie 9, 1324 Hz Almere, Netherlands