Architecture

Artist's studio installed on top of historic Amsterdam department store

Artist's studio installed on top of historic Amsterdam department store
Room on a Roof, by Netherlands-based i29 (Photo: i29)
Room on a Roof, by Netherlands-based i29 (Photo: i29)
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Room on a Roof, by Netherlands-based i29 (Photo: i29)
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Room on a Roof, by Netherlands-based i29 (Photo: i29)
An existing spiral staircase that leads to the top of the tower's dome was also restored by i29 (Photo: i29)
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An existing spiral staircase that leads to the top of the tower's dome was also restored by i29 (Photo: i29)
The project is set to continue for at least two years and will be partnered with the Netherlands' Rijksmuseum national museum, hosting a series of artists, musicians, designers, and architects (Photo: i29)
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The project is set to continue for at least two years and will be partnered with the Netherlands' Rijksmuseum national museum, hosting a series of artists, musicians, designers, and architects (Photo: i29)
The wooden installation includes a pantry, working space, some storage, and a bed (for naps only – the artist will go home at the end of their working day) (Photo: i29)
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The wooden installation includes a pantry, working space, some storage, and a bed (for naps only – the artist will go home at the end of their working day) (Photo: i29)
One section is painted all-white and includes a telescope and some furniture for the artist to relax and gaze out of the window (Photo: i29)
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One section is painted all-white and includes a telescope and some furniture for the artist to relax and gaze out of the window (Photo: i29)
Each section is reached via ladder (Photo: i29)
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Each section is reached via ladder (Photo: i29)
Room on a Roof, by Netherlands-based i29 (Photo: i29)
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Room on a Roof, by Netherlands-based i29 (Photo: i29)
One section is painted all-white and includes a telescope and some furniture for the artist to relax and gaze out of the window (Photo: i29)
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One section is painted all-white and includes a telescope and some furniture for the artist to relax and gaze out of the window (Photo: i29)
The project, dubbed Room on a Roof comprises one room which has been divided in two (Photo: i29)
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The project, dubbed Room on a Roof comprises one room which has been divided in two (Photo: i29)
The tower atop Amsterdam's historic De Bijenkorf department store (Photo: i29)
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The tower atop Amsterdam's historic De Bijenkorf department store (Photo: i29)
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Netherlands-based firm i29 recently transformed the interior of a small tower on the roof of Amsterdam's 19th Century De Bijenkorf department store into a novel studio that will host a series of artists-in-residence. The project is dubbed Room on a Roof and indeed comprises just one room.

The designers cite inspiration from Alice in Wonderland and wanted to create a inspiring fairytale-like studio that plays with scale and space. In an effort to bring this about, i29 divided the room into two parts.

One part is painted in white and features a telescope for the resident artist to gaze out of the window upon Dam Square and the surrounding area, plus a few pieces of furniture. A restored spiral staircase also dominates the room and leads to the tower's dome

Each section is reached via ladder (Photo: i29)
Each section is reached via ladder (Photo: i29)

The other part of the room is the more interesting, and consists of a stacked wooden structure with integrated pantry, desk, storage space, sink, and a bed (for naps only – the artist will go home at the end of their working day). Likened to a livable cabinet by the designers, the different areas of the structure are reached via ladder.

The Room on a Roof project is partnered with the Netherlands' Rijksmuseum national museum. From January 27, it will host a series of artists, musicians, designers, and architects. Dutch artist Maarten Baas is the first, and the project is set to continue for over two years.

Though the tower is clearly too small to host any sizable events and not open to the public anyway, the plan is for the works created in the space to be shared with the public somehow. Ideas mentioned by i29 thus far include an online live performance, displays in De Bijenkorf's windows, and an exhibit in the Rijksmuseum.

Source: i29

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1 comment
1 comment
Germano Pecoraro Designer
It's an idea for highter space