Creative Industry Work Units

Allard Architecture's Matchbox design in the developing area of Amsterdam North

Matchbox is a 30+ unit commercial building with 4500m2 leaseable space for small to mid-sized companies within the creative industries. The site is located in a developing area in Amsterdam North, and will be realized as the third phase of development in this area. The new building will connect to and share facilities with its neighbour to the north. Conceived of as pre-fabricated units that are stacked one on top of the other, thus creating visibly unique spaces. The central garden atrium that is carved out by the positioning of these units allows for street side cantilever’s and stepped facades. After graduation, Allard Meine Jansen (b.1970) worked first for Herman Hertzberger, Renzo Piano, Massimiliano Fuksas and De Architekten Cie., before setting up his own practice in 2006. His first built work was the conversion of a former boxing school in Amsterdam into his own home office. Since then he has worked on several studies for property developers. Now he has his first new-build commission, a multi-occupancy building in Amsterdam North. The design entitled ‘Matchbox’, is a stacking of commercial units that are rotated and shifted with respect to one another – a strategy designed to liberate them from their claustrophobic situation between two bigger buildings and to underscore the individuality of the users.

via WAN