‘The Pearl of Amsterdam’ delivered to PEX Real Estate

‘The Pearl of Amsterdam’ has been delivered to developer PEX Real Estate. ‘The Pearl’, or ‘De Parel’ in Dutch, is a residential tower on Amsterdam's Cruquiuseiland, housing two office spaces at ground level and eight flats and two penthouses on the five floors above. The apartments are in the higher segment of the market and were already sold upon completion. Architectural Materials Amsterdam supplied the building materials for the project.

AMA mainly supplied the building components made of natural stone. These included the drip sills and the bricks from which the entire building is constructed. AMA thereby participated in a project that was carried out in its figurative backyard. After all, the showroom and the construction site are only a few hundred metres away from each other. So, with this project, AMA contributed to the enhancement of its own patch of Amsterdam, Cruquiuseiland.

Joshua Camera: “Generous living space in sought-after location”

‘The Pearl of Amsterdam’ was built on behalf of PEX Real Estate, an Amsterdam-based property developer and manager. “With ‘The Pearl’, we are realising spacious living space in a highly sought-after location,” says Joshua Camera, director-owner of PEX Real Estate. The numerous facilities of this part of Amsterdam provide the residents with all their daily needs and the city centre can be reached easily by bicycle. “In addition, the residences offer a beautiful view of the Amsterdam-Rijn Canal, but at the same time the complex is located along a low-traffic part of the waterway,” emphasises Camera.

Denis de Haan: “‘The Pearl’ adds lustre to Cruquiuseiland”

“Calling a project ‘The Pearl’ is ambitious and creates expectations”, says Denis de Haan, managing director of Architectural Materials Amsterdam. “And these are exactly the kind of projects we like to commit to.” Together with all parties involved AMA took on the challenge. “The cooperation was intensive, but constructive and extremely pleasant”, reflects De Haan. “We are happy to add more lustre to Cruquiuseiland with ‘The Pearl’.”

Bungalow aan het water

Royaal wonen in een bosrijke omgeving met de stad op steenworp afstand. Wie droomt daar nou niet van? BNLA kreeg de kans om dit droomhuis te ontwerpen, gelegen aan het water en grenzend aan het bos. Het resultaat is een bungalow waarin alle binnenruimtes subtiel in elkaar overlopen en waar de natuur altijd zichtbaar is. De bungalow is verrijkt met verrassende zichtlijnen, hoge plafonds en een serene patio in het hart van de woning. De volledig gelijkvloerse villa is bijzonder royaal van opzet en gaat een uitgesproken verbinding aan met het omringende groen.

Bouwbedrijf: MVB Bouw B.V.
Architect: BNLA
Publicatie: HC Magazine - Heylen Ceramics

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SPAANDAMMERHART, AMSTERDAM

78 houses and appartments, an underground parking garage, a collective court and garden, 2021Winner competition

The early twentieth-century Spaarndammerbuurt consists of characteristic urban ensembles from the Amsterdam School period. The neighborhood is still largely intact, but in time it has suffered scars here and there that are slowly being healed. The housing complex on the site of the former Spaarndammerschool that Korthtielens architects designed in collaboration with Marcel Lok Architects is an example of this. The new building is based on the richness of the Amsterdam School tradition in which architecture, art and nature go together. The ensemble has a diverse residential program of which one third is housing in the social rental sector.

The heart is the collective green courtyard that is accessible through gates that connect to the informal routes in the neighborhood. There are communal gardens in which the existing large trees have been regrouped so that there is a generous green view for both the residents in the new building and the residents in the existing adjacent homes. The project is in line with the progressive Rainproof policy of the municipality of Amsterdam. Green roofs collect rainwater and there is as little paving of the public space as possible. In the event of heat stress, the abundance of greenery and the robust facades will provide cooling. The planting is geared to provide food for expected urban wildlife such as small songbirds, bats and insects. The upstanding eaves and gables contain the nest boxes for small birds, swifts and bats.

Artikel NRC: 19-02-2021:

Villa Fifty-Fifty - Strijp R Eindhoven

You’re neither inside nor outside, you move from inside to outside to return inside and end up somewhere outside.

Publication: Herengracht Industrie Prijs 2021

Design/architect: Studioninedots
Construction company: Buytels Bouwbedrijf
Glazed bricks, flagstones and nature stone copplestones: De Nis BV - Architectural Materials Amsterdam

Musis Sacrum: unique with bronze

Arnhem, NL

Musis Sacrum is a famous concert hall situated in Arnhem and it’s been a part of the city since 1847. The current building did not meet the requirements of this time and therefore the council of Arnhem asked architect firms van Dongen and Koschuch to help with the renovation of the existing monument and a new extension that resulted in a brilliant design of a large concert hall and supportive functions. The design was based on the principles of Musis Sacrum: ‘’to perform and listen to music in excellent acoustical conditions within an attractive green context’’.

A very unique element in this interior design is the use of bronze. Bronze elements such as bars, doors and counters are found in the old renovated building as well as in the new large concert hall. The Nordic Bronze material is specially hand patinated for Musis Sacrum and therefore it fits perfectly in its design.  

This project won multiple national and international awards, such as the Heuvelink award and the German Icon award. It became a real success thanks to the team effort between architects Frits van Dongen and Patrick Koschuch, together with an excellent group of consorts, an impassioned client and a great contractor. We asked Ralph van Marmeren, one of the architects that worked on this project, a few questions about the design of this project and in particular the use of the Nordic Bronze sheet material.

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Musis Sacrum, old and new building

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Interview with Ralph van Mameren, project architect at Koschuch Architects

Can you tell us something about the design, what inspired you?

We were inspired by the beauty of the park and the central position of the concert hall in this stream of parks surrounding the center of Arnhem. Also we wanted to free the original Musis building, the monument, from its add-ons and restore it in its original splendor. 

What challenges did you face during this project?

We had 3 major challenges. The first one was time, to make this project possible we were depending on a fund that required us to finish a large part of the building before the end of 2016. This gave us less than a year time from sketch-design to working drawings. Also to ensure the continuity of Musis, one concert hall always needed to be operational. So after the new concert hall could be taken in use, we were able to start the renovation of the old concert hall. Together with a fixed opening date by the queen, our planning was tightly boxed in. The second challenge was that high ambitions and high quality promises were made without a matching budget. All this within a highly political process where the entire town was watching us. The last challenge we faced was a flooding building site and hidden asbestos findings almost necked us. 

Which element of this project is the most special for you?

We would say the large openable window to the park. Together with the façade-builder, we managed to invent a new way of opening huge glass doors without huge amounts of steel and matching costs which looks amazing and works perfectly. 

Can you tell us something about the process of selecting this particular material (bronze)?

One of the reasons was an art piece that was made out of bronze which had to be incorporated in the design. Another reason was that we wanted to use a material that is aging well and could be used in most building components. Just like in most buildings by Alvar Aalto, which still shine in its elegant beauty after more than half a century. 

Which advantages does this material have for this project?

We could use it for our furniture, signage, building details, water tabs, door handles, outside cladding and carpentry and became a very recognizable part of the identity of Musis. Of course its anti-bacterial quality is now a big advantage in these pandemic times.

Bronze elements within Musis Sacrum are mostly applied on doors, bars and counters. Is there a special reason for this?

We wanted to make the doors, bars and counters heavy and classical without a classical shape/detailing. Also the fact that certain parts that are touched a lot will show signs of wear, just like in ancient monuments or on statues, is a nice feature of this material. Furthermore we like the fact that this building is designed to last for a longer period of time and also shows patina on doors and furniture and walking paths on the floors, just like in churches and monuments. This in contrast to the modern trend to treat buildings like temporary fashion-items which are designed to be replaced when its "freshness" wears off. 

For this project Architectural Materials Amsterdam provided the Nordic Bronze material. Nordic Bronze is a part of the Nordic Copper collection, available at AMA. Visit our showroom to discover these unique materials.

Photo credit: Bart van Hoek

Danish Seamen’s Church

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

At the water of Coolhaven in Rotterdam you can find the Danish Seamen’s church. The original building is designed by Danish architect Holger Jensen and Niels Luning Prak and opened in 1970. The only Danish Church in The Netherlands reopened in 2014 after an extensive rebuild and renovation, making the building more modern and light on both inside and outside. Hermeta succeeded to remain the characteristic look of Scandinavia and give the building a unique and robust appearance. This renovation project contains curtain wall elements, made out of Scandinavian brass material (Tombak). Nordic Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc with an distinctive gold yellow color. When exposed to the atmosphere, the surface begins to darken within weeks and can change to a dark brown in a year.

Nordic Brass in early stage of oxidation process

Nordic Brass after oxidation process

Oxidation process

The natural development of copper and brass patina is one of copper’s unique characteristics. Copper is a naturally-occurring element in the environment. Within a few days of exposure to the atmosphere, the surface of Nordic Standard copper and Nordic Brass begins to oxidize. During this process the color changes from the ‘’bright’’ mill finish to a chestnut brown, which gradually darkens over several years to a chocolate brown. After the initial coloring in different shades of brown, a patina forms over time with shades varying from yellow-green to blue-green. Thus, continued weathering can result in development of the distinctive green patina – or blue in coastal locations. The Danish Seamen’s Church is a perfect example of the natural patination process. Years later, the yellow color of Nordic Brass has changed into a darker brown shade.

Nordic Brass in early stage of oxidation process

Nordic Brass after oxidation process

This oxide or patina layer also provides impressive protection against corrosion and can repair itself if damaged, defining the exceptional longevity of copper and brass cladding. Copper and brass materials don’t need additional technical maintenance, like paint, making it a very durable and versatile product. Furthermore, copper is infinitely recyclable and also known for its hygienic character.

Design freedom with Nordic Copper

Aurubis has developed a unique Nordic Copper range, which offers designers and architects unparalleled design freedom. Next to standard copper and brass materials, the Nordic Copper range also include factory-applied surface treatments to provide the various stages of oxidation and patination straightaway. The processes involved are very similar to those taking place over time in the environment and utilize copper mineral compounds, not invasive chemical treatments. All Nordic Copper form an integral part of the copper and are not coating or paint. All copper products are manufactured by recycled raw-material.

The range of Nordic Copper is displayed in AMA. Visit our showroom to discover these unique materials.

Photo credit: MooiBeeld

Waterrijk Oesterdam: interview with BINT architecten

Waterrijk Oesterdam is a luxurious resort located by the water in the center of National Park Oosterschelde. The resort offers unique water villas, a small harbor, beach and a center building where you can find the reception, hotel apartments, catering facilities, shops and wellness spaces.

The roofs of all the villas and the center building are installed with titanium zinc from Zintek. The roofs of the villas are covered with natural zinc, while the center building has a combination of natural and earth brown colored zinc.

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CENTER BUILDING RESORT WATERRIJK OESTERDAM

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Michel van den Bogaard and Evert Pronk from BINT architecten designed the center building of the park. We asked Michel and Evert a few question about this special project in Tholen.

How did the design for the center building arise?

The design for the center building is based on three main directions that extend to the surrounding landscape while the arms of the building, which are at an angle of 12 degrees, provide an inviting gesture. With this detail in mind, you are literally received from all sides with ‘open arms’ in the center of the holiday park. The center building is a large atrium made of glass from which you can see the landscape from all corners to explains it’s functionality. Visitors will feel immediately at home and know where to find everything.

What inspired you for the design?

The design is dictated by the rules from the development plan, like ridge heights and gutter heights. Furthermore, we exploited the beautiful landscape and its location as far as possible. The hotel rooms all have a stunning view and still provide privacy. This makes the building attractive all around. 

Which challenges did you face?

The biggest challenge were the logistics and in particularly the residual waste. Because we didn’t want any back sides for the building, we created a special basement under the building for buffering. Garbage trucks can reach the basement via a ramp to collect the waste.

Which component of this project is most special for you?

Everything has been done well and thoroughly, both interior and exterior, and this has resulted in a very nice cohesion.

How did you chose the materials?

The base of the park was already made from wood and zinc. Because this fits our portfolio really well, we were comfortable with this choice. The brown colored roof of the restaurant is a special addition to the building.

Why did you chose zinc as roofing material?

All the water villas are made with zinc roofs. Zinc blends in nicely with the air, which makes this material ideal to fit in with the surroundings.

About BINT

At BINT, every project is unique. The precise nature of the architectural appearance should be achieved in a balanced and measured way. Similarities between their projects consist out of clear and powerful concepts, laboriously constructed designs and the close cooperation with the customers. BINT created spaces where people can spend their precious free time.

Architects:                        BINT architecten

Installer:                           Gebroeders Lemmen – Maatwerk in Zink

Photographer:                 MooiBeeld

Supplier:                           Zintek