Architect: Frits van Dongen, de Architekten Cie.
Designers: Christa Rinzema, Adriaan Mout, Dick Scholten and Alejandro Hernandez, Stephan Oehlers
Which city does not need to combat urban depopulation? City centres are gradually emptying, resulting in deserted streets and abandoned dwellings, with office buildings replacing homes, taking away any feeling of warmth.
Amsterdam wanted to reverse this trend and so, close to the narrow canals that are characteristic of the Dutch capital, rises the Funen. It’s not just an architectural project, it’s a hybrid concept – a combination of homes, workplaces and nature in the centre of Amsterdam. Frits van Dongen, a partner with the architects, Architekten Cie., has created an astonishing location.
Around a central park, various styles of houses and apartments are hidden away amongst the greenery, like “Secret Treasures”. The architect’s influences are numerous and varied. He has taken his inspiration from traditional closed urban blocks, more open developments including courtyard layouts, as well as from German “Siedlungen” and English “Garden Cities”. His imagination has created a countryside area right in the densely packed city centre of Amsterdam: an absolute delight for future residents!
In order to protect this parkland residential area, Frits van Dongen has envisaged a block of apartments separating the Funen from the railway line, to the East of the site. And to dress its façade, the architect has used laminated glass with Vanceva® interlayers covering the whole length of the block. For a full 5000 m2, Vanceva® becomes the coloured shell of the Funen, as well as its most recognizable feature! In fact, train passengers can read the word “Funenpark” on the facade. To achieve this effect, Vanceva® coloured films have been integrated into the short sections of the saw-tooth laminated glass, allowing the facade to constantly change its appearance thanks to the palette of shades, that can be seen from both the inside and outside of the building – colouring the 5000 m2 surface yellow, green, pink, blue and orange. The East facing facade is bathed in light when the Sun is in the South, reaching right into the building – delighting and astonishing train passengers on every journey!
Vanceva® has become the building’s second skin and its distinguishing feature to the outside world.
The Vanceva® interlayers also provide soundproofing, since the railway line is very busy and therefore noisy. The laminated glass incorporating Vanceva® films is more effective in reducing noise than all conventional glazing systems and limits the surge effects of frequency ranges of between 1000 and 2000 Hertz. The sound-proofing properties of laminated glass thereby reduce the nuisance caused by nearby rail traffic.
The Funen is a complex comprising 312 homes, a business area (offices) of 3000 m2, an underground car-park with 235 spaces, as well as shops and restaurants. It’s a complete way of “urban” life which is gradually being recreated on this former industrial site.
The Funen is a truly groundbreaking project, a new concept in town planning, which encourages residents not to leave the city but to come back and live here without losing all the benefits of other devolved districts. While many other cities are suffering from depopulation, Amsterdam is winning the battle to repopulate its city centre.
