LED Clouds Noorderpark Amsterdam North, Light Installations Building, Netherlands Architecture

LED Clouds, Noorderpark : Amsterdam North Light Installations

Buildings in Holland design by Sophie Valla Architects

Location: Noorderpark, Amsterdam-Noord, The Netherlands

Design: Sophie Valla Architects

photograph : Marcus Koppen

LED ClOUDS IN AMSTERDAM

A light installation by Sophie Valla Architects

15 Mar 2013

Noorderpark Light Installations

Sophie Valla was given the mandate to refurbish two abandoned gas stations at the entrance of the new Noorderpark in Amsterdam North. New light installations turned the derelict buildings into colourful structures, creating an instant landmark for both drivers riding on the nearby highway and the park crowd.

photograph : Marcus Koppen

The Setting

The construction of the North-South subway presented Amsterdam North with the opportunity to turn the centre of Amsterdam North into a park. Sinking the Nieuwe Leeuwarderweg highway by seven meters allowed to merge three existing green spaces to create a Central Park for the residents of the area.

The landscape architects West 8 planned the construction of three bridges over the sunken highway and the canal crossing the area in order to create a loop within the park. Two gas stations from the Eighties were going to be demolished, but for Mr Verhagen, the project manager, who saw an opportunity. The two buildings mirror each other on both sides of the park entrance. The space under the characteristic gas stations roofs was uniquely suited for public gathering. Verhagen asked Sophie Valla to turn the buildings into cultural centres.

photograph : Marcus Koppen

Gas stations in the spotlight

The light installations under the flat roofs are the outstanding feature of the remodelled structures. Sixty textile panels made of the fabrics used in advertising were cut to various sizes to meet the dimensions of the existing structure. Each fabric panel was backlit to form an LED-like screen that can be programed independently. The 60 fabric panels were combined with colourful spotlights in a giant puzzle, creating a 10 by 40 meters artificial sky.

Using skilful programing of both the LED-like panels and the spotlights, dynamic light animations lasting 30 minutes mimic shifting cloudy Dutch skies. Twenty fluctuating skies inspired by nature but generated with technology lead us through bright and stormy days from sunrise to sunset. The changing environment creates a somehow surreal atmosphere.

In addition, especially designed sliding shutters may close the colourful pink and yellow pavilions. Made of golden coated steel panels they are punched in an elaborate twisted pattern.

photographs : Marcus Koppen

Like a sophisticated carpet sitting on a lawn, concrete slabs laid out in an attractive pattern outline a conspicuously stylish urban spot in the grassy field of the park. Concrete furniture from a former school yard provides comfortable lounge benches.

LED CLOUDS offers the residents of Amsterdam North an exceptional location to be used by everyone, as well as for social and cultural activities. Sophie hopes for the place to appeal to neighbouring youths. She’d like that many turn up to enjoy their first dates under her LED CLOUDS. The old gas stations were also given a second life as a symbol of a different kind, a dazzling signpost for highway drivers en route towards a workplace or back home at the end of the day.

The LED CLOUD was funded by the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, the Mondrian Fund and the City of Amsterdam North.

photographs : Marcus Koppen

Pavilions and LED Cloud – Building Information

Client: Amsterdam North City
Concept and Design: Sophie Valla Architects
Team: Sophie Valla and Ivo Jelinek
Construction: Van Eden Bouwconstructies bv
Light supplies: InventDesign
Contractor: Interieurbouw Coen Winkel

Photographs: Marcus Koppen

Pavilions and LED Cloud Amsterdam North images / information from Sophie Valla Architects

Ref. www.noorderpark.amsterdam.nl – Website: amsterdam.nl

Location: stadsdeel Amsterdam-Noord, Buikslotermeerplein 2000, 1030 BB Amsterdam, The Netherlands, western Europe

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Another Dutch building design by Sophie Valla architects on e-architect:

Twisted Corner, Leiden
Design: Sophie Valla architects + Marc Koelher architects
Building in Leiden

Mies van der Rohe Gas Station, Nun’s Island, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Design: Reconstruction design: Les architectes FABG
Mies van der Rohe Gas Station Building

Masterplan Marktkwartier, Amsterdam, North-Holland, The Netherlands
Architects: Mecanoo

images : GVd Werff, Bank Amsterdam and Mecanoo
Masterplan Marktkwartier Amsterdam