For the Studio for Unsolicited Architecture, Team “New UTility” researched to which extent a New Energy Landscape (harvesting renewable energy in an urban setting) could be a solution to revive Business Parks with a large amount of vacancies. For a test case, they took the famous Amsterdam Amstel III area.
The New Utilities Team (NUT) consists of Jan Heijn (De Gezonde Stad), Erno Langenberg (ELstudio), and René Kuiken (René Kuiken urbanism). The team worked on two major issues. Firstly the problem of a large amount of vacant office buildings, on the other hand, the ever-increasing demand for energy. The team investigated whether a new energy landscape of renewable energy could be placed in office areas with a large number of vacancies.
As a test case, they took the famous Amsterdam Amstel III area. By not only looking at the reallocation of the vacant office buildings but also specifically at the large amount of public space at these business parks, they unlock a palette of new possibilities for usage. Furthermore, the cheaper public space offers opportunities for users who can not (yet) afford the prices of the office spaces. The team calculated in collaboration with experts from Fakton, that with this strategy the inevitable ‘write-off’ value of such buildings and sites can be significantly reduced. The NUT team presented its bid book to Alderman Van Poelgeest of the municipality of Amsterdam. During the presentation on September 11, 2012, they showed this in a short film, in which also Ronald Huikeshoven, regional director of AM Noord Holland, spoke about the project. Huikeshoven signed a letter of intent with the team to examine how, with this strategy at hand, a serious start can be made to transform vacant office locations.
Read the article on the NAI website (Dutch) Download the bid book (Dutch, pdf 12MB)
Watch the video recordings of the presentation in the NAI on September 11, 2012 (Dutch)
Read the review of the evening on Archined (Dutch)
The New Utility bid is offered to Alderman Maarten van Poelgeest (Municipality of Amsterdam) during a closed session at the town hall in Amsterdam. The event is documented on film for the presentation “Showcase for Unsolicited Architecture” at the NAI in Rotterdam on 11 September 2012.
The bid book is part of the study New Utility in the context of the Studio for Unsolicited Architecture.
Facing the changing role and position of the architectural profession, and against the backdrop of economic crisis, the Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture (Fonds BKVB) and the Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAI) joined forces to give more room for self-initiated, design research. The Studio for Unsolicited Architecture provides a platform for experimentation and innovation in the field of complex spatial problems. It is also a great opportunity for designers, artists, and critics to publish their views on an actual topic with no predetermined frameworks and constraints. The (preferred) interdisciplinary composition of the teams reflects the domains of the Fonds BKVB and aims to encourage hybrid and cross-disciplinary exchanges and reflections on the built environment.
At the meeting in the Stopera were present:
Maarten van Poelgeest (Wethouder gemeente Amsterdam), Paul Oudeman (Kantorenloods gemeente Amsterdam), Hetty Vlug (Projectbureau Zuidoost Lob),
Jan Huijbregts (Zuidpark bv / Connecting Concepts), Ronald Huikeshoven (AM Amsterdam), GertJoost Peek (Fakton), Bob Mantel (dRO gemeente Amsterdam), Jonne Arnoldusen (Assistent Wethouder van Poelgeest), Stefan Wijers (TweeTact – moderator).
Interviews and film: Tess Kanters (Kijkproducties)
Team NUT:
René Kuiken (René Kuiken Urbanism)
Jan Heijns (de Gezonde Stad)
Erno Langenberg (ELstudio)
The presentation will take place on Tuesday, September 11 from 20:00 to 22:00 in the auditorium of the NAi (Museumpark 25, Rotterdam). Afterward, there will be drinks in the lobby of the NAi.