Su 27 Sep 09 - Su 08 Nov 09
Free State of Amsterdam
Shell canteen in the Tolhuistuin on the IJ, Amsterdam North
As its contribution to the 4th International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR), the Municipality of Amsterdam presents the city of Amsterdam as a “Free State” – a place where designers display their ideas about a free and open future – in the exhibition The Free State of Amsterdam (Amsterdam Vrijstaat). Amsterdam wants to give new meaning to the saying “The city’s air is liberating”.
Specifically, Amsterdam has asked itself whether there is a form of planning that increases rather than restricts the degrees of freedom. Can chance, flashes of inspiration and spontaneity be a part of the planning process? Is there room to experiment? How quickly can the city adapt to changing circumstances? Can planning be multi-layered, openended, full of paradoxes and, in some respects, chaotic and open? These questions are relevant now that Amsterdam is preparing a new master development plan, but could also be significant for cities elsewhere in the world that strive for openness and that cherish values such as tolerance and liberty: cities that see diversity as the very essence of their existence.
Nine firms of young urban planners from Amsterdam and Rotterdam have therefore fleshed out their vision of freedom and planning in nine largescale models for various areas of their proposed metropolis. None of these designs lay any claim to practicability, but neither are they mere utopias. Because this is an exercise in increasing the degrees of freedom – with room for improvisation, new insights, and interaction with local residents – the designs could perhaps be better described as “splendid accidents.” The designers only wish to present strategies and ideas, not actual plans. To avoid even a hint of official blue-printing, they continue to work on their models during the Biennale, integrating ongoing input and thus making the exhibition a true workplace that reveals its full potential only towards the end.
Curator: Zef Hemel
(in Dutch) Website Vrijstaat Amsterdam
Program of "The Free State of Amsterdam":
Exhibition
Western Harbour District –Temporarily Open as Strategy
Office: Rietveld Landscape I Atelier de Lyon
Initiatives from talented creative professionals, researchers and
subcultures will find an exhilarating temporary location along the IJ,
resulting in a huge creative free port that never sleeps; an
inspiration for bigger achievements.
The River IJ north bank – Experiments on Noorderveld
Office: Urhahn Urban Design
Urhahn Urban Design is launching a freedom struggle for Amsterdam
North, aiming ar the creation of a free state within the Free State,
where inhabitants can do their thing, and that becomes a place for new
collectivity.
Eastern Islands – Freedom under Threat
Office: Karres and Brands
The Karres and Brands design reinforces the isolation of the eastern
islands, designing walled gardens and free (thinking) places as a safe
haven for artists, writers, politicians and intellectuals under threat.
Het Nieuwe Diep – The ‘Free Street’ of Amsterdam
Office: ZUS
In the area around the Nieuwe Diep, Zus is proposing a “small-scale
mega structure” to connect the neighborhoods, people, plants and
animals. The Spinoza Promenade and the Vrijstraat (or the Rue de
Descartes) will be two public streets where people can live and work –
the one organic and green, the other geometric and urban.
Head of the Amstel Wedge –Landscape of Liberty
Office: MUST urban design
In MUST’s design, the Amstelscheg on the south side of Amsterdam will
claim green space back from the city. In return the city will be
presented with a completely new metropolitan landscaped park.
Duivendrechtse Veld – From Urban District to Free City
Office: STUDIOKLOK
In his proposal for the future of Duivendrechtse Veld, Arjan Klok shows
that there are untold possibilities for carefree living, working and
spending leisure time in this now ramshackle area.
Gaasperplas – An Aquatic Free State
Office: Alle Hosper
If it were up to Alle Hosper, the suburban Gaasperdam would be a free
state on the water. The proposal is to enlarge the lake and extend it
to the shores of the River Gein, creating a waterscape that will
stimulate new private real estate investment in the area.
Nieuwe Meer – Awareness
Office: Güller Güller architecture urbanism
Mathis Güller believes that the Nieuwe Meer (”the New Lake”), the
“natural gap” between the international airport of Schiphol and the
city of Amsterdam should be redesigned as a zone for global awareness:
a “blank page” for the global city, on which one can write over and
over again.
Sloterplas – The Land of Milk and Honey
Office: B+B
In the proposal of B+B, the area around Sloterplas becomes a place
where people can celebrate boredom; where laziness and love are the
most important values; where one can enjoy good food and where fairy
tales and dreams are the ultimate expression of freedom.
Film Program
IDFA presents at The Free State of Amsterdam
Every Sunday afternoon, a documentary will be shown on Amsterdam. The program has been put together by the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA).
100 years of Free State
The unique film 100 jaar Vrijstaat (100 years of Free State) will be shown daily. Gerard Nijssen and Erik Willems compiled this film from file footage of Amsterdam dating back to the early twentieth century. The central theme in the film is the enormous appeal that Amsterdam holds for those in search of freedom. The viewer is bombarded with a constant stream of fragments: from partygoers to squatters, and from politicians to artists. Celebrities such as Gerard Reve, Boudewijn de Groot, The Beatles, Had-Je-Me-Maar and Peter Giele also appear on the screen. Images of Peter Schat in spectacular attire at the Dam, Amsterdam during the liberation celebrations of 1945, and the Friday Night Skate are just a fraction of the multitude of images that whisk you away in the ultimate Free State of Amsterdam feeling.
> See the Calendar for the Film Program
Story Program
The Story Program, in which people report on their experiences with the city, is another feature of The Free State of Amsterdam. There will be political discussions as well as forums with project developers, social agencies and residents. Besides discussions about the relevant city streets, contemporary urban philosophers reflect on what freedom in the city means, and homeless people and drifters tell how they use the city.
The younger generations are represented with ideas and designs for the future of Amsterdam, showcasing the work of students from eight Colleges based in Amsterdam.
> See the Calendar for the Story Program
Jonge Vrijstaat (Young Free State)
An exhibition in the Tolhuistuin by children and youngsters from Amsterdam about their perspective on the city; in collaboration with various youth organizations.
The Making of Free State of Amsterdam
13 October - 29 November
The research material developed and used by the nine urban design offices is on display at the Zuiderkerk Information center in Amsterdam. Interviews, models and sketches show the creative process that preceded the final designs.
International Urban Design Conference, Morgen/Tomorrow
30 September, 1 and 2 October
Within the framework of The Free State of Amsterdam and in memory of the founding father of modern Amsterdam urban design practice, councillor Floor Wibaut (1859 -1936), the international Urban Design Conference, Morgen/Tomorrow is held in Amsterdam. Central themes include food, energy, drinking water, infrastructure, waste and ICT.
The conference opens on 30 September in the Zuiderkerk with a keynote lecture by Daniel Cohn-Bendit. On Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October, an extensive program of lectures and workshops is taking place in the Westergasfabriek. Amongst the speakers are Ken Livingstone, Kees Christiaanse, Maarten Hajer, Tim Lang, Hermann Scheer, Dieter Läpple, LaDonna Redmond, Henk Ovink, and P.K. Das.
