Congress Venues
The Concerthall of the 21 st Century
More than 100 years after the Concertgebouw, the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ is opening its doors as the concert hall of the 21st century. At last, Amsterdam has a fully-equipped medium-sized hall for a classical repertoire which is becoming increasingly broader and more varied. The Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ shows current musical developments in the form of festivals, thematic projects, multimedia concerts and special series, which continually forge links with other eras, styles, cultures and art forms. The Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ has a multifunctional main auditorium, with seating for 735 or standing room for 1,500, and a smaller auditorium seating 100, both with foyers and extensive conference and catering facilities. Right next door to the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, is the Bimhuis, for jazz and improvisation. With the development of the southern banks of the IJ, the Amsterdammers are returning to the waterfront. The location of the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ is a meeting place on the borderline of the old heart of the city and the newly-developed banks of the IJ.
The Buildings
A glass showpiece on the harbour front
The Danish firm of architects, 3xNielsen, was selected in 1997 by the Amsterdam Council to design this new showpiece for the city. Amsterdam wanted a Dutch building with a strongly international character . The firm was selected because of the sober style of their previous projects. The architects have put their own signature on the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ and the Bimhuis by using mainly three colours: the natural concrete colour, black, and the light maple wood with which the main auditorium is panelled. The completely angular design is broken only by the undulating shapes of the foyer decks.
Bigger inside than out
From the train or from the Piet Heinkade, passers-by see a building which seems to be moored by the quayside like a big, transparent ship. What repeatedly attracts attention is the exceptional sightlines. From all sorts of places throughout the building, unexpected vistas of the water or the city open up. Every change of weather shows the building in a different light. Inside, too, there are all kinds of hidden jewels for the future visitor. In a predominantly angular building, there is an exceptionally beautiful use of diagonals in a number of places. From the space behind the glass façade, there is a spectacular view along the two auditoriums where the building is displayed in all its glory.
The auditorium as a beating heart
Every auditorium is unique, due to the multiplicity of wishes and interests that are involved. In its move to the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, the IJsbreker wanted a change, through innovation and increase of scale. As in every concert hall, the auditorium forms the heart. Everything has been taken into consideration. What makes the main auditorium so special is its flexibility. The auditorium is moveable on three sides. The acoustic ceiling can be moved up and down, which provides unique, variable acoustics. The floor can be either completely flat or tiered, with a difference of 1.20 m. with respect to the stage, so that various auditorium arrangements are possible for both the flat or tiered floor. And finally, the side walls by the stage can move in and out, and the back wall can be hoisted up, making it possible to experience intimate chamber music or a full symphony orchestra.
The building received 100% financial backing from the Amsterdam Council (construction budget of € 52 million). The Muziekgebouw/Bimhuis was designed by the firm of architects 3xNielsen from Aarhus, Denmark.
Further info: www.3xn.dk
Computer graphics by CIIID
Address
Piet Heinkade 1
1019 BR Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Information
www.muziekgebouw.nl
Bimhuis
The Bimhuis provides a perspective on Dutch and international music in over 250 concerts annually, in which a variety of jazz and improvised music can be enjoyed. The focus is on new developements, but the Bimhuis also offers a significant selection of more mainstream music.
Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA)
Crossroads Between Land and Water
Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) is a crossroads between land and water and combines a multitude of functions. The striking building has a 600-metre-long quay, large reception halls, a touring car terminal, offices, a convention centre and a subterranean parking with 500 parking places. During the summer months the focus is mostly on tourism. At the terminal, ocean and river cruise passengers receive a warm reception. As a first impression of Amsterdam, Passenger Terminal Amsterdam is the showpiece of the capital. PTA also serves as an event location. Under the undulating roof of this artfully designed building lies a large transparent space which, spread over three levels, accommodates some 3,000 guests. The facade, which boasts of an abundance of glass, makes for a magnificent view on the IJ-harbour and the city center. The remarkable architecture betrays the hand of Larry Malcic of the London-based HOK International Ltd. The bold, wave-like structure gives the building a nautic aura. A masterly example of modern architecture, on historical ground.
The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam is located next to the Mövenpick Hotel. The Guinness
World Records attempt and the Harp Concerto’s evening concert will take place there.
Mövenpick hotel
A completely non-smoking hotel in Amsterdam.
The new Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre is located on the waters edge yet within walking distance from the old center of Amsterdam and the Central Station.
Offering 408 elegant and comfortable rooms equipped with five star facilities, with an excellent view over the harbour or the city, the hotel is also the perfect location for large or small conferences.
Unique features
All guestrooms, conference facilities and public areas are non-smoking, including the Restaurant and Bar. Kindly note that there are no designated smoking areas on site.
Excellent rooms: larger than average, with top of the bill facilities (executive rooms and suites have free wireless LAN highspeed internet, breathtaking view over the harbour or city) and other five star facilities.
The excellent location makes the hotel an exciting place to be. The combination between the adjacent Passenger Terminal Amsterdam and Muziekgebouw is unique and unsurpassed by anyone in Amsterdam. The area is upcoming, trendy and holds a high cultural and creative allure.
The Mövenpick Hotel, adjacent to the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, will be the place for the
Exhibits, Aurora concerts, Yoga and Feldenkreis sessions and accommodation.
Amsterdam Public Library (OBA)
We live in a many faceted society; our politics, economics, social and cultural affairs all contributing to its diversity. The library plays an important role as centre for information, culture, communication and education. In the 21st century information is synonymous with power. You will notice that if you lack it, -because it's the well informed who have all the advantages and wield the power. The library can provide you with both the source and the access.
The right to information is enshrined in law and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is part of the library's purpose to make these rights a reality. By facilitating the free flow of information the library makes its contribution to a democratic and humane society.
To attain this goal and fulfill this task the library divides its services into four main areas. We are a centre for information, for communication, for education, for culture and its associated activities as well as being a meeting place for the community. These functions form together the spearhead of our philosophy and policy.
Increasingly the library is developing away from being a warehouse full of books into an exciting, stimulating and multifarious information source. Once a subdued, still sanctary, now an open house to all who hunger knowledge and recreation.
The new image of the Oosterdokseiland as an 'Island of knowledge' fits this philosophy perfectly. Here the new Central Public Library of Amsterdam, with an expected 7000 visitors per day, will become the supercharger of a world class cultural and informational meeting point: 7 days a week from 10 in the morning till 10 at night!
The new beautiful Amsterdam Library next to the Amsterdam Music Academy offers
access to the Internet, free of charge, seven days a week from 10:00 – 22:00.
Conservatorium van Amsterdam
New conservatory building
In 2008 Conservatorium van Amsterdam will move to a new building at the 'Oosterdokseiland', near Amsterdam Central Station. This will be a particularly inspiring location for music students: the new building will have a central position in a cultural area, with among other things the 'Muziekgebouw', which will accommodate the IJsbreker and the Bimhuis with three concert halls, and the Public Library. The other Amsterdam School of the Arts faculties are situated at walking distance.
Design
The building, designed by architect Frits van Dongen, will have thirteen floors. The design is based on the 'Engawa model', which is based on the Japanese way of building, where the corridors are situated next to the outer walls of the building and the rooms (concert halls, lesson, and study rooms) within. Large windows in the front will transmit sufficient daylight into the rooms. This way of building ensures that students can study without being disturbed, because the corridors will keep noises from outside out.
The new building will be constructed in three units. At ground level there will be four halls - a grand hall, a small hall, a recital hall and the music theatre/studio - a foyer and the canteen. At the next level, on top of the halls, will be four floors with lesson rooms and on top of these will be two floors with the library, a lecture-hall and study rooms. The offices will be situated at the top floor of the building.
The front's most important function is to transmit daylight, but it will also determine the outward appearance of the building. The front design will represent a union between image and sound.
The photos give an impression of the grand hall, the small hall and the recital hall.
The Amsterdam Music Academy has a brand new building opposite the main venue.
It will open its doors in April 2008 and has offered us several practice rooms and one
concert venue.
www.conservatoriumvanamsterdam.nl