Academic Centre for Dentistry, Amsterdam (ACTA)
The new premises of the Academic Centre
for Dentistry is situated on the ambitious Southern Axis
development corridor (Zuidas), in full view of the A10 motorway. They consist
of a seven-storey base above which hovers a block of laboratories.
The first two floors are rendered as a
transparent plinth with an open character. A large cantilever shelters the
entrance zone, whose illuminated open-air ceiling emphasizes its height and has
an inviting ambience. Inside, beneath the floor tilting in two directions of
the double-height lecture hall, is a large public information desk. The central
well, around which all functions are organized, is a vibrant hub pulling
everything together.
A basic graphic pattern of stripes
applied to the glazing of the facade gives a surprising Moiré effect: the
building's look changes with the angle of observation and the weather
conditions. The restaurant in the transparent intermediary zone can be seen
from a great distance and itself offers a spectacular view across Amsterdam.
www.acta.nl
Client
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
Architect
Benthem Crouwel Architekten
Gross
floor area
23.150
m²
Start
design
2004
Start
construction
2007
Completion
2010
