The Cabinet of Dr : gently subverting Berlin's urban matrix, the new Dutch Embassy is an expressionist labyrinth with a surprisingly informal interior realm.The new Dutch Embassy in Berlin is a classic Koolhaas building. It reveals traces of some of his best known works and concepts, such as the external metaphoric materialism of the Rotterdam Kunsthal and the internal structural and functional mazes of the Jussieu library in Paris. Yet compared with other current OMA (1) See Object Management Architecture. (2) (Open Mobile Alliance Ltd., La Jolla, CA, www.openmobilealliance.org) An organization formed in June of 2002 by the consolidation of the WAP Forum group and the Open Mobile Architecture Initiative. mega-projects such as Seattle Library or the headquarters for Central Chinese Television, the Dutch Embassy is actually a relatively modest building. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Perhaps it was the choice of site in former East Berlin, now officially known as Mitte (literally 'middle'), that incited such a highly controlled and introspective in·tro·spect intr.v. in·tro·spect·ed, in·tro·spect·ing, in·tro·spects To engage in introspection. [Latin intr urban and architectural solution. Contrary to expectations, the central location does not exude ex·ude v. To ooze or pass gradually out of a body structure or tissue. the hustle and bustle of nearby Potsdamer Platz Potsdamer Platz, sometimes known in English as Potsdam Square,[1] is an important town square and traffic intersection in the centre of Berlin, Germany, lying about one kilometre south of the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag (German Parliament Building), and . Instead, Klosterstrasse (Monastery Street) runs quietly off the busy Stralauerstrasse and ends on the quayside quay·side n. The area adjacent to a quay or wharf or a system of quays, especially in a port city. quayside quay n → Kai m of the river Spree where the water flows slowly and darkly into a lock. Few tourists find their way here unless on a river cruise River cruise is a voyage up and down a river/rivers touching at a series of ports. River cruising is a form of traveling in the inlands waterways of the world. Unlike large ocean cruise liners, river cruise ships are usually smaller vessels, generally accommodating between 100 and . Development of the prominent corner site, which had been vacant since the war, had to conform to Verb 1. conform to - satisfy a condition or restriction; "Does this paper meet the requirements for the degree?" fit, meet coordinate - be co-ordinated; "These activities coordinate well" Berlin building regulations. These were precisely defined by the city's former chief planner Hans Stimmann and any new building had to occupy all four corners of the site. Being well versed in overcoming the inhibitions of planning laws, Koolhaas managed to avoid a preconceived pre·con·ceive tr.v. pre·con·ceived, pre·con·ceiv·ing, pre·con·ceives To form (an opinion, for example) before possessing full or adequate knowledge or experience. standard solution. Instead of proposing the customary atrium or inner courtyard, he created a freestanding monolithic 27 X 27m cube enclosed by slim L-shaped wings, so achieving a narrow but totally open courtyard while still fulfilling the requirement to build on all four corners. Call it Dutch irony, but the urban solution is both perplexing per·plex tr.v. per·plexed, per·plex·ing, per·plex·es 1. To confuse or trouble with uncertainty or doubt. See Synonyms at puzzle. 2. To make confusedly intricate; complicate. and intriguing. In functional terms, the two spatially interlocked volumes are divided between offices located in the cube and apartments in the one-room deep L-shaped wings, along with plant rooms (the building is fully mechanically ventilated ven·ti·late tr.v. ven·ti·lat·ed, ven·ti·lat·ing, ven·ti·lates 1. To admit fresh air into (a mine, for example) to replace stale or noxious air. 2. ). Linked by five vertically stacked bridges, both volumes stand on a raised platform which serves as the underground car park for only 28 vehicles, despite staff numbers of 70. Underneath, a tarmac ramp leads up from the street level into the courtyard where the main entrance is located. From there a continuous 200m strip, or what Koolhaas calls a 'trajectory' (in effect, a succession of staircases, ramps and corridors), snakes its way up through the building. At some points it emerges on or even through the facade (in the case of the cantilevering glass corridor above Klosterstrasse), changing direction of ascent and gradient until it reaches the restaurant and roof terrace. Floors, ceilings and walls of this architect-styled 'stairway to heaven' are clad in aluminium and sometimes even in plain or coloured glass. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Typical of Koolhaas, there is an honest, almost brutally direct, confrontation with materials. Surfaces jump out at you, not only because of their vivid hues, but also because of their harsh and relentless objectivity. Over time, the trajectory's cantilevered green glass ramp in will bear visible marks of wear and tear, just like the sheet aluminium on the floors and staircases. You slightly fear that the building, otherwise not so immaculately detailed and designed, might gradually begin to resemble a tatty old Dutch Old Dutch n. Old Low Franconian. space station. Due to the restricted floorplate size (700 sq m), the interior is dominated by the trajectory. This often generates curious configurations as the architect and his technical consultants had to squeeze, fold and contort con·tort v. con·tort·ed, con·tort·ing, con·torts v.tr. To twist, wrench, or bend severely out of shape: pain that contorted their faces. v.intr. the available space. As Koolhaas does not deal in conventional floors and storeys, it is difficult to arrive at an accurate number of floors. (Discussing the notion of a mini high-rise, he once mentioned 20 storeys.) In reality, there are only 10 levels of varying height in this 26m-high building. Structurally, the embassy is a tour de force. Each floorplate rotates and cantilevers over the one below and no single internal column runs through the entire structure (only four walls project through from top to bottom). With its oblique corridors, passages, ramps, steps, views through coloured glass, monstrously thick rotating doors and dead ends, Koolhaas' ingenious maze is reminiscent of the set for the iconic German expressionist ex·pres·sion·ism n. A movement in the arts during the early part of the 20th century that emphasized subjective expression of the artist's inner experiences. ex·pres film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari. At times, columns and heavy transfer beams appear in the most baffling baf·fle tr.v. baf·fled, baf·fling, baf·fles 1. To frustrate or check (a person) as by confusing or perplexing; stymie. 2. To impede the force or movement of. n. 1. positions. One particular example is the very low ceiling in the trajectory on level five, which compels tall visitors, such as Koolhaas, to instinctively lower their heads. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Because of the deliberate spatial complexity, there is little coordination between interior and exterior. Here, Koolhaas pays the price for his structural manoeuvring, as he is obliged to rely on a loadbearing double facade. Where the internal zigzagging of the trajectory feigns freedom or even anarchy, the straight steel columns that run down the full height of the building indicate a necessary and more simplistic sim·plism n. The tendency to oversimplify an issue or a problem by ignoring complexities or complications. [French simplisme, from simple, simple, from Old French; see simple rigour rig·our n. Chiefly British Variant of rigor. rigour or US rigor Noun 1. . Despite the spectacular feat of one conference room cantilevering 5m out from the facade and the trajectory's handful of timidly projecting features, the external envelope is actually a dreaded Cartesian cage. Evidently the spectacular cost (35 million euros) and extraordinary planning and construction time (five years) could not assuage as·suage tr.v. as·suaged, as·suag·ing, as·suag·es 1. To make (something burdensome or painful) less intense or severe: assuage her grief. See Synonyms at relieve. 2. this fundamental stylistic defect. Did the regimented marching order of Berlin's facades finally catch up with the master of the informal? Still, Koolhaas' embassy is undoubtedly a cunning retort to dogmatic planning laws as well as being another free gift to the city of Berlin. It even frames the outlandish Alexanderplatz television tower, a symbolic relic from the era of perceived Communist superiority over the West. From the core of the embassy cube there is an unobstructed view (through a gigantic opening in the apartment wing) of the tower's Sputnik-like top. It is a powerful (yet also possibly partly ironic) gesture of reverence from Koolhaas to a city that once upon a time publicly denounced him and his views on modern architecture. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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