concrete architectural associates have completed the design of the recently opened INK. Hotel Amsterdam, a new member in the Accor M Gallery Collection.
The description from concrete architectural associates
INK hotel Amsterdam combines the city’s unique local flair with the needs of the modern urban traveller.
A place that caters to travellers who want to define their own time, and identify themselves with the urban context of the hotel, the history of the building and the city in which they are staying.
The hotel is situated in the heart of Amsterdam, a few minutes walking distance from Dam Square. It consists of a conglomeration of historic buildings along the main street with its main anchor being the former newspaper head office and print shop of ‘De Tijd’ (‘the times’ in English).
A place where stories were written in the same building as they were printed forms the foundation on which INK hotel Amsterdam, including its restaurant The PRESSROOM, has been built.
INK hotel Amsterdam, a place where new stories are yet to be written…concrete blurs the boundaries between inside and outside by pulling the street into the building through a series of mayor architectural modifications.
concrete widened the entrance and inserted a new alley that connects the different buildings and patios, invites in light as well as people and provides insight into the public spaces. The goal on the ground floor is to create a mix of locals and hotel guests as they share the restaurant and bar.
All public functions are allocated to the ground floor, from where guests can find the vertical connection to the hotel rooms on the floors above.
Architecture: concrete architectural associates
Project Team: Rob Wagemans, Tobias Koch, Femke Zumbrink, Sofie Ruytenberg,Johanna Zychski, Nuria Ripoll, Melanie Knüwer, Cathelijne Vreugdenhill,
Ulrike Lehner, Erik van Dillen, Paula Gäbel
Project Architect: Tobias Koch
Architect Building Envelop: Boparai Associates
Specialist Joinery: Intera
General Contractor: J.P van Eesteren
Special features wall art / local maps: Jan Rothuizen
Photography by Ewout Huibers
All pictures and drawings are copyright concrete architectural associates
Circular Seating Along This River Help Locals Learn The History Of The Area
Architect Robert Skitek of RS+ has designed a series of public seating shelters that line a walkway along a river in Cieszyn, Poland, that’s also the border with the Czech Republic.
Provided with a very narrow and abandoned strip of land on the steep bank of the Olza River, the architect aimed to create an attractive public space and to design carriers for an exhibition about the history of a divided area.
Designed to be an ‘Outdoor Museum’, the circular seating platforms named ‘The Times Circles’, encourage people to relax and enjoy the view, but at the same time, they also provide a moment to learn about the history of the area.
The architects mention, “the most important challenge was to create a characteristic element – a symbol of the Museum, which would link areas belonging to two different countries. We decided to create a kind of appeal for those walking on the other side of the border river: “hey, here we are, it’s worth coming here, we invite you warmly”.
At night ‘The Times Circles’ are illuminated to attract the attention of pedestrians and provide information about important events in the history of the city. This information can be seen on the plaques that are attached to the exterior of the circles.
