geometric shapes cut through the industrial facade of BETA's amsterdam boat hangar

dutch architecture studio BETA has completed boat hangar, a contemporary utilitarian building in amsterdam‘s NDSM historic shipyard area. occupying one of the few remaining plots on the heritage site, which in the recent years has become a popular arts and culture hub, the structure subtly references and sharply contrasts its rich context at the same time.

all images by MWA hart nibbrig

BETA has designed the hangar to be used as storage, seasonal maintenance and the construction of new yachts, while at the same it offers space for offices, theater and other cultural events. influenced by the adjacent NDSM shipbuilding warehouse, the architects have developed an architectural language that does justice to the brief and context whilst fitting in a competitive budget. a crane gantry shapes the primary structure, upon and around which a secondary structure is placed, defining the span of the building.

industrial materials such as corrugated metal cladding, used to enclose the building, create a composition of lines and planes with a variation in scale, rhythm and color. two perforations, one singular and one rectangular, reveal the building’s interior and invite ample natural light inside. drawing upon the hangar archetype, three full-height sliding doors allow the total width of the structure to be opened towards quay and canal, offering additional flexibility in staging events and solving the logistical puzzle throughout the seasons.

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edited by: sofia lekka angelopoulou | designboom