Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

En Amsterdam, en el canal Singel, este renovado edificio fue el antiguo almacén federal de suministros médicos. La estructura principal es una construcción de cuatro pisos de ladrillos en “U” que emergen internamente con nuevo pabellón “esponja” sobre el canal.

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

The porous architecture of the rectangular pavilion is inscribed with a concept from the music of Morton Feldman’s “Patterns in a Chromatic Field”. The ambition to achieve a space of gossamer optic phenomena with chance-located reflected color is especially effective at night when the color patches paint and reflect in the canal. The layers of perforated materials, from copper on the exterior to plywood on the interior, contain all services such as lighting, supply, and return air grilles. The perforated screens developed in three dimensions are analogous to the Menger sponge principle of openings continuously cut in planes approaching zero volume. “Chromatic Space” is formed by light bounced between the building’s layers. At night, light trapped between screens sometimes appears as thick floating blocks of color. At other times the passing sun creates a throbbing color wash or moving moiré patterns.

The complex is entered through the original 20th-century brick courtyard. Passing through the interior reveals gradually more porous spaces until reaching the Menger sponge pavilion overlooking the canal. While the major portion of 50,000 square-foot project is workspace for the social housing company’s employees, the large sponge space is open to receive all uses from public gatherings to performance events. Given back to the community, the immediate canal edge has a new boardwalk.

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Ground floor plan

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Pavilion section B-B

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Pavilion section G-G

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Window detail

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Site map

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Concept

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Concept

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Model

Sarphatistraat Offices, Amsterdam

Model