An Astonishing Transformation into a Home
We should not be surprised to see architects turn old spaces into new ones, but this old gym in Amsterdam that was turned into a home is a surprise. The client who owned the gym, wanted to sell the property, so they tasked Robbert de Goede with coming up with good ideas.
He studied the neigborhood, researched the specifics of this densly populated area, and decided to transform the building into a home instead of a place for business. This would mean far less pressure on the neighborhood: less traffic, better access to the property, and a more peaceful use of the garden. Soon a buyer was found who chose the de Goede to finish the job.
This tranformation required a new foundation, which was the hardest part of all. Then, the gym was stripped down to its bear bones, exposing its brick walls and beautiful steel trusses. That inspired de Goede to design a new steel floor with similar detailing: the connections between the beams and how the bearing walls supports the steel is evidence of this. The ground floor ceiling is a copy of the original ceiling of the slanted roof, expressing a transparent and honest language. The hardness of the structure is balanced by the softness of the interior finishes of Yellow Cedar, brushed Larch, reused Oak, Eucalyptus , and an ultra-soft Alpaca rug.
The main space of the home is 60 percent the size of what the gymnasium was, making it perfectly square. A walkway around the atrium connects the first floor rooms, allowing for vertical traffic and communication in the house. The 10 skylights bring a flood of daylight to the ground floor. The open court is crowned with a 3m Ø LED-ring, the only circular architectural form in the building.
Over 100 LED-light fixtures were used in the very extensive lighting design.
The objective was to design an intimate, liveable home. This resulted in a minimal, industrial approach towards the architecture and a very personal approach towards the finishes. This reflects the clients as well. The owner of a fashion brand and a pediatrician. A great client for an architect: easily accesible, great trust in the designer, a creative, open mindset with a sense of responsibility to the future.
Project: The Gymnasium / Location: Old city center Amsterdam, Netherlands / Architect: Robbert de Goede / Construction: van Eden Bouwconstructies, Amsterdam / Furniture production: Houtwerk, Beverwijk / Lighting design: Hazewindus, Amsterdam / Contractor: VKV Restaurations / Floor area: 620m2 / Completion: Fall 2019 / Photograph: courtesy of the architect
