AMSTERDAM NORTH Opposite Central Station on the other side of the IJ-river starts the North-Holland-Canal, which has been the connection to the Ijsselmeer and the North sea until the Northsea canal was built. In spite of the good ferry and tunnel connection to the centre of Amsterdam the IJ-river has stayed a geographical barrier. Big parts of Amsterdam North derive from the General Extension Plan 1935. Mentionable is also the garden city " Eastzaan" of B.T. Boeyinga, a settlement dating from 1300 provisional housing from 1922-1924 with wooden gate buildings. In the 80ies also North started restructuring former harbour and warp areas. OMA developed an urban concept with city-villas and linear slabs for the IJplein.

In the coming years the whole north bank will get a face lifting. The Shell-Terrein with outstanding buildings from the sixties and the Shell-Tower as urban landmark will be given a new function. Along the North-Holland-Canal will be built a new urban centre designed by Teun Koolhaas. The North-South-metro line provides a quicker connection with the Amsterdam city centre. Already today several excellent architectural projects announce the ongoing changes.

de Architecten Cie, de Architectengroep, Bjarne Mastenbroek, Benthem Crouwel, Bosch & Haslett, Claus en Kaan, OMA Rem Koolhaas, Jan Marlies Rohmer, Atelier Zeinstra van der Pol, M. Zwarts

© ArchEX