piet hein eek: the roof minerva harbor, amsterdam

corner side 3D

piet hein eek, the dutch designer who is well-known for his demolition and restructuring of wooden furniture, was one of the speakers at this year’s design indaba conference, south africa’s major design event which invites the world’s top visionary minds to address creativity and business in relation to their practices and on a global level.

piet hein eek presented his sustainable philosophy which he began long before the current environmental trends and green awareness in design even existed. his design practice focuses on using already existing components such as discarded furniture, scrap wood, existing modules etc., repurposing them into new and unique products which have garnered him the title of europe’s most prominent green designers because of his respect to materials and craftsmanship.

his latest project is an architectural one, whereby he has developed a new business complex in collaboration with PFC2 environment and allard architecture,  set for location in amsterdam’s minerva harbor. called ‘het dak‘ (the roof), the framework has been conceived to give companies the freedom and flexibility to create their own office space. it is seen as an informal place where diversity defines the building’s image which is composed of a collection of separate structures arranged in such a way that terraces, squares and alleys flow between, creating a network of paths. considered to be a ‘collective business concept’ where the arts, media, entertainment and creative business services come together and collaborate through urban activity, ‘the roof’ derives its strength from the identity that users give to their individual spaces.

the complex features a sturdy 5m high roof that is carried by a steel support structure which is situated 16m above a flexible format for business and office spaces. the flexibility of the roof allows it to link or separate to the three dimensional spaces below, creating a huge choice of constructive positions within its grid-like arrangement. the concept adapts to the user, not vice versa, each unit installed hosting its own identity, resulting in diversity under one roof. it facilitates organic growth, unique collaborations, creativity and a range of functions which change overtime.

3D side view

sketch
© allard architects

sketch

aerial site view

‘the roof’ is set for construction in amsterdam’s minerva harbor 

rendering of steel support structure arrangement and individual units

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions’  feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication.
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