Revision as of 06:35, 19 March 2012

protoTAGS and validators

Tram wagons http://prototag.hyperbody.nl/prototag.php?id=TQgQjbLyJnShebt8hP2XIQ

Space between MTV and Red Bull http://prototag.hyperbody.nl/prototag.php?id=158gBovxL4QJf3kPDZz5Gw

Sofa in Kunststad http://prototag.hyperbody.nl/prototag.php?id=8JteR98bzXT9CBsHpTrdhQ

Reused concrete blocks http://prototag.hyperbody.nl/prototag.php?id=EvdTCZeXODRhBfB0wpWViw

Validators

Tim, Photographer working in Kunststad http://prototag.hyperbody.nl/protoTAG.php?id=fMtdUvUZxTTFoRsF0Gr8Fg

Maarten, Urban planning student living in container housing http://prototag.hyperbody.nl/protoTAG.php?id=LAE8XOdp9mSJXfLqWeRqmw

NDSM Ecosystem

NDSM is a vibrant area of a former shipyard in Amsterdam Noord. Currently occupied by different kinds of users (creative buisnesses, companies workers, artists, skaters, students). One of its qualities, which attracts so many people to the area is its informal, guerilla character. Graffiti, sculpture, reuse, industrial interventions and even abandoned tram wagons can be found there. So far there's not much control over the area, activities taking place there have organically grown.

What makes its users so fond of the place is that they acctually think of it as theirs. A good example can be artists working at Kunstad. They were given an empty unit of space in the warehouse, which they had to build and arrange themselves, which automatically made them strongly connected to the area - the adaptation of space reflects the needs of its users.

Currently the NDSM area is a mix of vast open spaces and densely occupied, closed ones. People there are either exposed to all kind of factors, or closed in their working environment.

vs

Characteristics of the site

- densely occupied places contrasted with large open spaces between them

- collective of different often spontanous activities, rather than a fixed plan for the area

- area is occupied mostly between 9 and 17, due to it's working character

- an unusual mix of different types of users (artists, architects, skaters, MTV, Red Bull workers, former shipyard workers)

- although close to the center to Amsterdam it seems more remote because ferries ride every half an hour

- seasonal use of the space (exhibitions, concerts, events)

- reuse of many industrial buildings, although some of them still remain not used (large cranes)

Problems and opportunities

As mentioned before NDSM area is an area consisting of large open spaces and also big, closed buildings. It provides its unique atmosphere and character and gives the opportunity for various, temporary usage when needed. The issue is the social use of space. People working there are happy with the place, although it seems that most of the time they spend in closure, not really experiencing the area, which is due to the industrial character of the warehouses thay occupy.

When it comes to users of the space and their opinion about a difference of opinions between different type of users can be observed. People working there, no matter from which industry highly value the place, they injoy working there and fell at home. On the other hand inhabitants (mostly students living in the container housing) represent a different approach. They don't use the space apart from the route from the ferry stop and don't feel connected to the area. Most of them if the housing situation in Amsterdam wasn't so hard would have chosen to live somewhere else.

Other aspect of NDSM, which in a way defines its character is the seasonal use of it. It can be observed in the year cycle (festivals and big events in summer) and in the daily cycle (not really used during evenings and nights). The pattern of daily usage of the place has couple of reasons, the frequence of ferryrides and its break during night, and the character of users. People working there go home at certain hour, the same like commuters and by passers and inhabitants as mentioned before don't really use the area, so it remains empty.

Concept - Industrial Garden

A need for a space introducing more recreational, park activities and other density qualities to the area emerges. An space, which people can adopt to their current needs - they can either be exposed to others, isolated from each other, or stay in a semi-private area, having contact with each other if they wish to. Individuals, pairs or larger groups of people can used it, the space will change with its users.

Analogy to nature, which always provides the best sollutions can be observed - such qualities exists in a forest or a garden. It'a a place, where people escape from everyday life, work to relax. Structures resembling trees will provide shelter from rain, sun or wind, but the connection to weather conditions will still remain strong. One of the most important qualities of nature is its adaptibility and constant change and that's what needs to be adopted from the garden idea. Planting a forest at NDSM is not a solution, but finding a way of translating its principles into urban, industrial context - an Industrial Garden.

The garden idea is based as well on using some of the existing materials from the site. Concrete blocks and some crane parts can be adapted to the project.

The division of the space will happen in 2 dimensions: horizontal and vertical.

The vertical grow will provide more sensual and relaxing perception of the space. People can enjoy beautiful views of Amsterdam, be more exposed to factors such as sun, wind or water sounds and disconnected from NDSM everyday life cycle. They can experience the less urban aspects of NDSM in a more relaxing environment.

The ground level will provide space that could be arranged for larger groups of people and shelter them if such need ocurs. It will provide sun/wind/sound barriers or enhancers according to changeble weather conditions. They can play, eat, interact and use the area in whatever way they want to.

One of the most valuable qualities of the NDSM site, which needs to be preserved is the “freedom of rules”. Industrial garden provides interactive shelters for people, reacting to changing weather conditions and social needs.

Current Users

Social aspect of the NDSM site is that it's mostly used as a transit area to other parts of Amsterdam Noord, turist destination and work place (apart from restaurants and living areas). People who work there (artists in Kunststad, Red Bull and Mtv workers) chose this area and are connected to it (the connection is strong, because artists working in Kunststad rented a space in the warehouse and had to build their working environment themselves), but still most of the time they spend in closure.

Students occupying the container houses represent a different approach. They mostly use their containers to sleep and migrate for the whole day to Amsterdam. They don’t have a feeling of being connected to the NDSM and use it as a transfer site. From their point of view the area doesn’t offer them anything interesting.

It changes its character in summer time, when the festival season starts. Then the flow of people is much bigger.

Connections and future users

The neighbouring projects, which are de markt, media lab and ccc introduce new activities to the ecosystem of ndsm and new users as well. The idea of Industrial Garden is to adresses their needs. The media lab focuses on workshops for children and youth, which means they’ll need a space to play . It also has a canteen and a kitchen, connected directly to the project by the northern façade of the warehouse for which the Garden provides sheltering in the summer. The target group of CCC are corporate workers, who will need a place to relax and have a break as well as the users of de markt, located between MTV and Red Bull offices.

The mentioned projects connect to the industrial garden more on the input-output level, whereas Event Space, situated south-east to it shares similar principles in the way of understanding the ecosystem. Both projects connect in the search of solution to the area and can be combined together on the spatial level.

The introduction of this kind of space will also provide a change in the way NDSM is used throughout the day. Currently, due to it's working character it's occupied in working hours, from 8-17, but with encouraging inhabitants to use the area as well this cycle can be lenghtened.

Other aspect of the current situation is detachment from the site by it’s inhabitants - people living in the container housing. An attractive public space, where thay can spend time and interact with each other would make them more connected to the area.

Sketches

Inspiration