The municipality recently designated the old GAK building at the Bos en Lommerplantsoen as a monument. Despite the post-war appearance of the building, with which we often do not associate monuments, the award is justified. This is what architectural historian Dorine van Hoogstraten says. She praises the building for the progressive function it had in the 1960s and for its redevelopment in the early 2000s.
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According to the municipality, the building owes its new monument status to its iconic design, which can be seen as an architectural highlight from the 1960s. In addition, it was one of the largest and most modern office buildings in the Netherlands at the time, says the district council in West.
Architectural historian Dorine van Hoogstraten confirms the progressive function of the building. “It was an administration office and almost 3,000 people worked there doing administration. They did not work in cubicles, but neither did they work on a large office floor. There were like small villages inside.” The interplay between the indoor and outdoor spaces of the building also appeals to her. “There was space here for the park. The design of the pergola and the statues by Karel Visser, it was all designed in consultation between the architects,” says Hoogstraten.
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Despite the post-war appearance of the building, the appearance is still worthy of a monument, says the architectural historian. “This is a time layer that also belongs to the city. Monuments are not only found on the canal belt or in the Amsterdam School, this is also part of it. It is an expression of optimism in the reconstruction. We had to work with modern materials battle. I certainly think it is right that it is protected,” said the historian.
Transformation
The monument status did not only come about because of the past. The municipality is also proud of the current function of the building. The building now houses student housing, hotel rooms and apartments. It was given this repurposing after it had been vacant for a long time in the early 2000s. The A10, which is located right next to the building, had to be taken into account. “They had to do something with the noise from the highway and the particulate matter. They modernized the original facade and created a kind of conservatory structure. If you look at the transformation of office spaces into living, this is a good example,” says van Hoogstraten.
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2024-04-09 05:06:50
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