“The design doesn’t fit the location and ignores the surroundings,” says Ruben Hanssen of Architectuur Omslag. Image Jakob van Vliet
The competition was organized by the organization Architectuur Omslag, which is committed to “bringing the importance of beauty in architecture back into the public debate”. Ruben Hanssen, one of the organization’s founders, says he did it because “the current design is incredibly ugly.”
“We see more news about this in the media,” he says. “The design doesn’t fit the location and ignores the surroundings. We also regret that there was not a democratic process sooner. The question should always be: what should be in such an evocative place.”
The building, which will be called The Diamond Amsterdam and is expected to open its doors in March 2024, is still under construction. However, the first outlines are visible. Amsterdammers have already compared it to a Beehive bag and a motorway toilet. So not very flattering.
Omslag Architecture, founded on the Swedish example to influence the building policy of municipalities, then took action. Hopefully the competition will prevent things from going “wrong” more often in the future. The organization also wants to see more “aesthetically appealing architecture” built in Amsterdam.
“More inclusive projects”
Hanssen doesn’t think launching the competition is offensive to architect Robert Meijer, who designed The Diamond. “It may be bad, but it’s also bad that the whole city will soon have to look at a building that a lot of people don’t like,” he says. “The time of arrogant architects who design what only they like must be over. Much more inclusive planning is needed.”
Restaurant mogul Won Yip, one of the building’s managers, told AT5 in late November that he didn’t understand all the fuss. “It’s all a bit of a waste of time. It is what it is and it’s not ready yet,” he said. “If you turn the corner at the DeLaMar Theater you see the same thing. I think it’s a balance between monumental and new.
Two prizes
Interested parties wishing to participate in the competition can submit their project via the Architectuur Omslag website. There are two prizes up for grabs in total: an audience prize and a jury prize. All the drawings will appear on Instagram and the drawing with the most likes will win 250 euros and the book A Millennium of Amsterdam by Fred Feddes. The winner of the jury prize wins 100 euros and the same book.
The jury includes architects Peter Drijver and Pablo Álvarez Funes and Walther Schoonenberg from the Association of Friends of the Center of Amsterdam (VVAB). The association had already tried in vain to stop the construction of The Diamond Amsterdam, which will include a hotel, a café, a cocktail bar and a steakhouse, until the Council of State.
About the author: Jesper Roele has been writing for Het Parool since 2019 about Amsterdam’s daily news, festivals, nightlife and the tech sector. You can send suggestions to [email protected].
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2024-01-08 13:59:30
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