KNSM Jo Coenens' Masterplan for KNSM-island- provided big buildings, referring to the harbour scale. The buildings which accord to one block are among others the "Piraeus" from Hans Kollhoff and Christian Rapp and the "SkyDome" from Wiel Arets. At KNSM there are still traces of the old harbour history to be found. Apart from houses for retired captains and former administration buildings of the shipping companies also a the passenger terminal dating from the sixties is still to be seen. Additional to the predominating housing small galleries, shops, cafes and boot-workshops can be found.

JAVA-EILAND On the eastern part of the island a different strategy has been followed. The old houses were entirely torn down, before an urban and small scale housing district after plans of Sjoerd Soeters was built. The big housing blocs with intimate yards are structured by small canals referring to the flair of the Amsterdam city centre. The buildings designed by different architects are repeated in each of the urban blocs in varying positions. The housing project of the Swiss architects Diener and Diener links Java and KNSM within the urban plan. The Jan Schaefer bridge from Venhoeven CS connects Java island to the city centre.

BORNEO-SPORENBURG For the two peninsulas Borneo and Sporenburg West 8 made a striped, three layered housing proposal, which reminds of long warehouses.The narrow housing types are conceived as introverted patio houses. All private outside spaces as well as parking places are to be found within the plot. Different architects are interpreting these rules. On Borneo the "Architects-houses" show an even wider range. This "sea of houses" is relaxed by big city blocs such as "the Whale" as most prominent example. Red, waving bridges connect the two islands.

Eastern Docklands // architectural walking tour information / contact

LIT: "Eastern Harbour District - Urbanism and Architecture", NAI 2003

www.easterdocklands.com (en)
map - www.amsterdamports.nl (nl,en)

de Architecten Cie, de Architectengroep, Claus en Kaan, Jo Coenen, Faro Architecten, Herman Hertzberger, Josep Lluís Mateo, MVRDV, Neutelings Riedijk, Marlies Rohmer, Christian Raap, Van Sambeek en van Veen, Alvaro Siza, UN Studio Van Berkel & Bos, Koen van Velsen, Ton Venhoeven, West 8

© ArchEX