Foto: Maarten Zeehandelaar
A building that resembles, by lack of better comparison, a spaceship. The sleek hull suggests great power of movement, the archways add to this by visualizing counterforces by which the vessel is buffeted. This is beauty, not only in the design, maybe even more in its message. “Look,” this building is saying, “we are a bold people and this is our age and time.” It’s an architecture of hope, the building a tribute to its makers.
Oddly, it makes me think of an older architectural style, Streamline Moderne. This particular style, from the 1930’s, took Art Deco, did away with ornamentation and focussed on the pure, aerodynamic line. It was a very industrial style, which found its way into automobile and also into maritime design. The great ocean liners of the age became almost utopian, with their clean, futuristic looks. They, in turn, inspired architectural design; great civic buildings were modelled after vessels, the so-called ocean liner style.
Still, it’s a strange paradox: something immobile like a building, echoing a design meant for movement. That’s what this building is, too, paradoxical. A vessel going nowhere, but looking as if it’s ready to go.
Texto por: Wibo Kosters
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