Arcam / René van Zuuk Architekten

Mar 2009

Uploaded by Nico Saieh — Filed under: Institutional Architecture ,Selected , Glass, Rene van Zuuk, Skin, Steel, The Netherlands

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Architect: René van Zuuk Architekten
Location: Oosterdok, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Client: Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Gemeente Amsterdam / NL
Building Contractor: H.J.Jurrïens b.v., Utrecht/ NL
Structural Ingeneering: Advies en Ingenieursbureau Van der Laar, Eindhoven/ NL
Project Year: 2002-2003
Site Area: 300 sqm
Constructed Area: 477 sqm
Budget: US $2.03 M
Photographs: 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. 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.

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. 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 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.

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.

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. 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.

: situation plan

: site plan

: quay level plan

: street level plan

: floor level plan

: roof plan

: east elevation

: north elevation

: south elevation

: west elevation

: section 01

: section 02

: section 03

: detail 01

: detail 02

: detail 03

: detail 04

: detail 05

Cite:
Saieh , Nico . "Arcam / René van Zuuk Architekten" 04 Mar 2009. ArchDaily. Accessed 10 Feb 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/15091>

Comments (8)
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Bo says:

thnx for details. project really cool, simple and nice. It seems like pie with some cut off pieces.

# March 4, 2009 at 09:18

odris says:

great proyect

# March 4, 2009 at 10:42

Richie says:

Nice little structure.. The organic curving roof form works at this scale, it looks something like an inhabited piece of sculpture.. Kudos to the architects on providing so much information on it also.

# March 4, 2009 at 11:45

JUST COOL DESIGN says:

I like the curvy simplistic design! very nice!

# March 4, 2009 at 14:24

sandeep says:

great project..
keep it up!
wish u Good luck

# March 6, 2009 at 01:13

ppf24 says:

I’ve been there. Actually when I asked the tourist information about this building, they told me: it’s easy to find, because it’s really strange! Haha.

# April 13, 2009 at 21:02

Tarek sakkal says: