With its numerous canals, Renaissance architecture, Dutch Mimolette cheese and bike culture, it is hard not to fall in love with Amsterdam. I will never forget that Amsterdam canal houses were the reason for me to get involved with architecture, and drawing these sketches were my weekend hobby that lasted for years.
Amsterdammers know that their canal district is a special place, and now the whole world is in on the secret. In 2010, the canal district was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Part of what makes this district so unique is the canal houses and the glorious stories hidden behind their impressive facades. They were homes for the wealthy and often the backdrop for historic events. Nowadays, they might conceal beautiful gardens, hotels or museums.
Many of Amsterdam’s canal houses were built during the 17th century at the height of Amsterdam’s Golden Age. Canal houses are often typified by their striking gables and dual entrances. The well-to-do used the doors above the stairs while trades people and servants scurried in through the door underneath. Canal houses were usually long and narrow, with a hook at the top to pull furniture and goods up and in through the windows.
If you love modern or contemporary architecture, its hard to argue against making this city the first stop on a tour of Europe. One of the most buildings that I loved there was the Eye film museum, its dedicated to the preservation of heritage for future generations, both Dutch films and foreign films screened in the Netherlands.
1. Eye Film Institute in Amsterdam By Delugan Meissl Associated Archietcts.
Eye film museum is located on Amsterdam’s waterfront just behind the Central Station; white space-age structure rises at an acute angle, making a marvelous sight. Its easily accessible with a free ferry; it’s a nice experience whether you are walking or going by your bicycle or vespa. Eye film museum was constructed in 2011, and definitely is a building that can’t be missed.
On the interface between land and water, between historic centre and modern development area, the building adopts many faces from each viewpoint, thus finding itself in a constant dialogue with its surroundings. Its radiance overcomes the city’s natural divide and historic lifeline, the IJ river, and is defined by its interaction with the surroundings, its positioning, and geometry. You will feel that it’s a completely different building at every view.
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