Moroccan

An original 1901 two-story carriage house facade conceals a 6-story, 8000 SF townhouse beyond. A gut renovation was required to remedy the spatial fragmentation resulting from numerous renovations. A new open steel staircase became the chief unifying organizing element for movement and visual focus. The stair unites the various elements of the building’s split section and reveals two impressive double height living spaces which satisfy the client's desire for loft-like public areas with the intimacy of townhouse living. The Owner’s affection for Moroccan details inspired custom laser-cut aluminum screens, carved Spanish Cedar doors, custom stone mosaics, and special finishes. These details, woven through the house, capture the essence of th... More

Fusion, a hybrid architectural culture, a quest for synergy and a new iconography: in the multifunctional building in Amsterdam’s Transvaal neighbourhood, which we have named Fusion, the requirement was to combine a Turkish and Moroccan centre (including prayer spaces and training classrooms) with a more typically Dutch institution for job creation. It is highly unusual to accommodate Moroccan, Turkish and ‘Dutch’ activities under one roof. The rooms for Moroccan and Turkish organizations each have their own separate entrances, but these are subordinate to the communal, more assertive, main entrance. Together with the central staircase, the latter forms a space for contact and mutual interaction. We sought to create a blend of Arabic archit... More