‘Europa’ mixed-use building, Amsterdam

The ‘Europa’ building on the Oostelijke Handelskade in Amsterdam is composed of three stacked volumes, each distinct in appearance and structure. Each one accommodates a specific function. On the ground floor there are shops with glazed street-level frontage. The office floors above have a concrete façade with windows set in black frames. The apartments on the upper floors are enveloped in a glazed shell. The rugged stacking of functions and the robust design of the façades calls to mind associations with the raw character of the former harbour district.