Autor: Naturezas Artificiais | Publicado: 2012-03-23T18:53:00-03:00




      


        Mixed-use Bridge for Amsterdam / Laurent Saint-Val        




                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
             




Architect&nbsp;Laurent Saint-Val proposes a new 
inhabitable bridge for Amsterdam. &nbsp;Fascinating mix of architecture with 
its 17th century’s canals registered at UNESCO World Heritage, 
AMSTERDAM, capital of Netherlands is the largest city of the country 
with a population of nearly 740 000 inhabitants (1.5 million with the 
periphery) and the most visited one with more than 3.5 million foreign 
visitors each year.  It’s in the 12th century that the Dutch first 
settled in this marshy and inhospitable region that would become 
Amsterdam. 500 years later, during the 17th century, Amsterdam became 
the center of the world’s economy. Today, the Batavian capital is known 
worldwide for its openness to the rest of the planet, its tolerance and 
its bustling cultural life.  Adventurer’s city, fishermen’s town, city 
of excess and extremes ; from a huge mansion to the narrowest house, 
modern architecture is developing between the historic building’s 
facades, giving a particular outcome and amazement for tourists. Due to 
the small size of the city, all interesting sites are within in a small 
area, making the visit even more agreeable. This is probably one of the 
reason why Amsterdam is so popular amongst poetry and architecture 
lovers.  Wherever you walk in Amsterdam, you will notice that all 
constructions are made of brick. Never the less, it has not always been 
so, the houses were originally made of wood. Following the devastating 
fires of 1421 and 1452, it was forbidden to build with wood. In 1669, 
wooden construction was completely banned and only two examples are left
 standing.  Undoubtedly, a knowledge and an architecural wealth slumber 
in the heart of the true Amsterdammers, ready to wake and be 
materialized in modern projects.  It is with a strong motivation and a 
desire to pay homage to wood that I made the choice to use this modern 
material, ecological but also traditional and universal throughout 
centuries ; a material occupying a leading position with its qualities 
of sustainability, flexibility, adaptation to other materials, 
efficiency and finaly its esthetics.  Wood, a traditional and universal 
material throughout centuries, has found the past few years a leading 
place, thanks to ecology. Therefore, every project today and 
particularly in Amsterdam cannot ignore the use of wood for new 
structures or ornament. Interior and exterior designs of this bridge are
 intended descriptive, while highlighting the natural material. 
Associated with steel and aluminium it gains enormous advantages, since 
these metals generate extremely light structures, representing a vital 
aspect regarding the soil’s quality.



Remarkable building material, steel can withstand heavy loads and can
 cover larger litters with smaller sections. For a simple mounting of 
bolts, rivets or welding corresponds a consequent simple removal system 
that facilitates additions, transformations, amputations, adaptations or
 even partial moves of a structure.  As for glass, it allows me to play 
with shapes with elegance and give way to my creativity. In addition, we
 have access to multiple choices of glass : toughened, laminated, 
anti-burglary, insulation and many more… Large windows let in light and 
allow to have beautiful views of the outside ; not feeling trapped, able
 to blend with old or new constructions. Enjoy light and make the best 
use of it while meeting safety requirements.  The easy access for all of
 this gateway open on each bank should revitalize this neighborhood and 
create an attractive link for this museum, slowly linking visitors 
towards this place of “culture” while also being a place of exchanges 
between populations, of casual conversations, of relaxation, of escapes 
and walks for every age.  Closer to the museum, on the first floor is 
the bike shop and on top a garden. The garden accompanies man in all 
civilizations and does not start its history in a house. Space giving 
free rein to imagination, space for reflection and meditation, a sort of
 passive confrontation between mortals and continuous rebirth of nature.
 The philosopher Foucault saw in the garden a “space of located utopia”.
   Today, especially in this town, we talk more and more about bicycle 
as a gentle mean of transportation and an alternative to automobile for 
commuting. Bicycle escapes the ravages of time and despite the 
development of locomotion techniques, it retains its appeal if not its 
magic. This characteristic primarily applies itself in urban areas.   In
 traffic that invades large cities, the major problem is pollution. 
Bikes don’t pollute and create a subtle relationship between man and his
 environment. Hence the value of this bike shop open to anyone who wants
 to introduce to his house the necessary practice to maintain a 
physiological balance for a city life more and more hectic.  On the 
other bank a cozy cafe and its restaurant at the top level should in my 
opinion attract customers wishing of meetings and make these moments 
exceptional.   To me, it seemed that a strong idea is a form of 
enchantment through the building and to what it can bring inside or from
 the outside. This gateway strong of its own identity, its European and 
contemporary character would be a welcoming site for all, a place of 
openness for today and tomorrow’s world with men and women that travel 
more and more, that became experts and can compare, that want excellence
 and should be seduce all the time.