The Central Markethall in Amsterdam has undergone an amputation. The clock tower that was once an integral part of this imposing building has been demolished. Now there are ambitions for new usage of the Markethall, and it is therefore time for revival. We were asked to design a clock tower to mark this new era.
In collaboration with artist Gabriel Lester, we searched for a design that provides an answer for the future while also referring to the past. Bridging past and present.
The new tower’s design echoes a memory of what has been. It traces the volume of the past, and expresses this, but stripped of all mass. The result is a fragile and elegant structure of bars, which form the veins of the bell tower. Resting upon the sturdy historic foundation, the transparent modern structure creates a captivating juxtaposition. Depending on the viewer’s perspective, the veins form an endless series of architectural abstractions. From wherever in the city you look at the tower, a dynamic spatial image emerges.
