Benthem Crouwel, Amsterdam
The office of Amsterdam architects Jan Benthem and Mels Crouwel was awarded the prestigious Dutch architecture prize 'BNA Cube' in 1999 for its infrastructure projects. "As architects they make an excellent contribution. They do not limit themselves to the role of pure designers, but they are also the source of inspiration of the whole process including the other disciplines involved. Like a spider in the web Benthem Crouwel Architekten integrate the contributions of all parties concerned. These leads to projects which, in spite of the complexity of the demands, are marked by transparent structure, clear design and a character of their own. (From the jury report) We took this as an opportunity to finally present the complex building tasks of Benthem Crouwel Architects to the German public. The exhibition 'Infrastructure - Architecture' focuses on several projects:
Amsterdam Airport Schipol, eight underground stations for the new north-south line of Amsterdam, the bus station 'Stationseiland' on this line and the International Exhibition and Congress Centre 'Amsterdam RAI'.
Amsterdam Airport Schipol The new master plan from the Benthem Crouwel office for Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport - the fifth largest in Europe - has transformed the airport into an urban centre and a focal point for new economic activities.
Noord/Zuidlijn, Amsterdam The completely new north-south line (with eight new metro stations) in the existing Amsterdam metro network significantly improves accessibility and mobility in the old city centre. In addition to connecting north and south Amsterdam, it also provides a direct link to the airport.
Stationseiland, Amsterdam The construction of a new bus station and a new metro station on the north-south line has created the opportunity to create a new public space, 'Stationseiland', in the city centre along the banks of the river Ij.
Amsterdam RAI, International Exhibition and Congress Centre The extension of the 'Amsterdam RAI' includes the construction of an exhibition hall, a 1000 bed hotel and a piazza which will be the central entrance to both the new and the old part of the complex. Together with one of the new metro stations, the access to which is now within the 'RAI', this will bring radical changes to the existing pedestrian area and the whole infrastructure.
Speaking at the opening:
Kristin Feireiss Berlin/Rotterdam
Philipp Meuser Architekt und Autor, Berlin
Prof. Rainer Ernst Vorsitzender des BDA, Berlin
