This temp agency features a clock as a sign. The picture was taken at 10AM. Timing is Everything. But this clock never indicates the right time. How annoying…
Bad Publicity
November 12, 2009 by nlarchitectsEmo.NL
November 5, 2009 by nlarchitects
When Joanna left after her internship she gave us a billboard with a handcrafted redesign of the .NL Logo. Will this draw a new target group? New potential clients? Could this lead to a Gothic project?
Black Grass
November 3, 2009 by nlarchitects
For an office building at Touwen, a small compound that is currently under construction in the historic center of Amsterdam, we proposed a black wooden facade as a reference to the sheds that could have been here.
Since the neighboring structures are taller and look upon the slightly sunken two story building, a sculptural ‘vegetation roof’ would be attractive. But green (or red for that matter) would appear sort of ‘discontinuous’.
Could we use BLACK grass?
We soon discovered a blackish plant, the Ophiopogon Planiscarpus Nigrescens that perhaps could do the trick. But according to Stephen Tas of Sant & Co, our consultant and collaborator on the project, the layer of soil on the roof would not thick enough for this particular kind of plant. We had to skip this counter intuitive idea and use the more common Sedum instead.
But the current state of the roof is not that bad either: the particular kind of soil deployed here to embed the Sedum in is nearly black. And as such gives the impression of a volcanic island…
http://www.nlarchitects.nl/www/under-construction/Touwenterrein
Urban Karaoke
November 1, 2009 by nlarchitects
We didn’t have time to stick around long enough to double check, but could it be true that in Mönchengladbach the villagers engage every Wednesday in some sort of civic Karaoke?
Floating Oak
October 30, 2009 by nlarchitects
We just discovered a baby oak tree in a flower pot outside our office. The window box is more or less suspended in mid air so we are curious how this will develop further.
Especially since there is a new type of truck driving around in the hood…
Cliffhanger (2)
October 29, 2009 by nlarchitects
Yesterday the official opening took place of the sports complex in Het Leerpark in Dordrecht. With its 8 gymnasiums piled together it turns out to be “the largest accommodation for sports education in the Netherlands”. It is very exciting to see it fully operational; it really seems to work!
One crucial part of the building however is still a just a construction site. In spite its current spectacular features it is a frustrating sight. Due to financial complexities, the climbing facility, that constitutes the main facade of the building, could not be realized. Yet.
But after almost six years of developing alternatives and perpetual negotiations the City, Coörporatie Leerpark, developer Heijmans and Johan Cave of Mountain Network yesterday signed the contracts. Construction of the interior will start soon. It looks like there will be a Happy End…
http://www.nlarchitects.nl/www/under-construction/Sportpaleis
Green Battle
October 22, 2009 by nlarchitects
Environmental concerns play an important role in the competition for the Stadskantoor Rotterdam. The new building aspires to become the most ‘sustainable’ building in the country. Like all other new buildings. The battle is on…
The competing teams had very different views on what is an energy efficient building mass. OMA, the winner, proposes to make a “wide building with a large interior” that as such has a positive ratio between skin and content. SeARCH, winner of the public vote, however suggests a composition of slender volumes that, since artificial light is the main factor in energy consumption, allow a maximum of daylight into all rooms. Strangely it seems both can be right…
Shanghai Gossip: Just Married
October 21, 2009 by nlarchitectsNL Architects is one of the 15 Dutch offices that participated in the Shanghai International Creative Industry Week from 15 to 21 October. The group show was organized by DutchDFA with the Dutch Consulate and FAR Architecture Center .
From Maurice Pourchez, the Vice Consul Economic and Commercial Affairs Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we received this vague but revealing snapshot. Apparently Pieter’s networking program got a bit out of hand…
Garage Notweg Officially Opened
October 18, 2009 by nlarchitects
Garage Notweg is a so-called Creative Hotspot in Amsterdam Nieuw West. The elegant former car repair shop by architect H.A.M. van den Berg is transformed into a ‘beehive’ for creative businesses.
The project was initiated by housing corporation Ymere and organized by Peik Suyling. The idea is to create some sort of ‘fashion ecology’. Young people from the area can find out here if they like working in the business, they can get an education and be part of the Industry. The World Fashion Center is not far from here. One of the hypothesis is that fashion designers can produce economically by working together with local seamstresses.
The project consists of two levels. The ground level features a multitude of studio spaces that are encircled by a ‘street’. By opening a ‘fence’ the studios can expose their content and invite people on their ‘porch’. The public route serves as catalyst for interaction and exchange of ideas. It hopes to spark the emergence of new networks.
But the real magic of Notweg is the ‘plaza’ on the second floor: an extensive space that is left open – and that could hardly be created in any NEW building. It is an indoor square. It can be used for anything: presentations, exhibitions, markets, fashion shows.
It was heartwarming to see so many people and such a mixed crowd at the opening: many nationalities, young people, senior citizens (maybe even some pioneers from this early days of this neighborhood), fashion people and designers from outside the area. Will it become a Hotspot Melting Pot?
http://www.nlarchitects.nl/www/under-construction
http://www.garagenotweg.nl/garagenotweg/default.aspx
http://www.ymere.nl/ymere/index.asp?id=1456
Convertable Elevator
October 13, 2009 by nlarchitectsRight now I’m in Stockholm for the jury of Europan 10. The meetings are held in the Swedish Association of Architects. This beautifully restyled ‘Sveriges Arkitekter’ features a gorgeous elevator ‘with a cage without ‘roof’.
One of the benefits of the open cage is that the Warning sign actually does not apply…
