Studio Tjep. was commissioned by the municipality of Amsterdam to design four ventilation towers in a newly developed city park above the Spaarndammertunnel in Amsterdam. Architecture with a poetic layer and sculptural quality.
The development of the Spaarndammer tunnel has created space for a city park in the center of Amsterdam by putting an important traffic artery underground. Tjep. was commissioned to design the striking ventilation towers of the tunnel. Because of the prominence of the location, the objective of the project was to add sculptural quality to what would otherwise have become a purely technical element in the new city park. With the practical requirements as starting point, Tjep. created four sculptural elements inspired by the surrounding park working closely with Sjoerd Soeters (the supervisor) and landscape Ruwan Aluvihare (landscape designer) who were responsible for the new urban area. Thanks to the Air Cells the park has at it center a sculptural landmark rather than anonymous air vents.
Microscopic leaf structures
The four towers with a height of six meters each form an origami of filigree patterns inspired by microscopic images of leaves, the total somewhat reminiscent of four knights guarding the entrance to the new neighborhood. The shiny ornamental shell forms a camouflage of filigree patterns inspired by microscopic images of leaves. The towers represent photosynthesis while simultaneously reflecting the surrounding trees, mixing representation and subject into a prominent landmark for the newly developed area. A stainless-steel polished breathing shell envelops the inner bright orange technical element. At night, this gives a fairy-tale like contrast. Computer algorithms mimicking natural growth generated the triangular self-supporting forms and patterns.
"...ornamental camouflage of filigree patterns inspired by microscopic images of leaves represents photosynthesis while simultaneously reflecting the surrounding trees."
Upcoming projects:
Sustainability focused airport interior design for Schiphol & Zaventem
High end sustainable washroom for Zaventem Airport (delivery: 2020)
Seating area for 400 passengers Schiphol Airport (delivery: 2020)
Upcoming projects:
City Branding
Museum Kwartier The Hague
Way finding and physical branding of the Museum Kwartier in The Hague
About Tjep.
Frank Tjepkema (1970) graduated cum laude from the Design Academy Eindhoven in 1996 and completed his master's at the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam in 1998. He worked on numerous projects for Droog Design, he became known for its Bronze Age Collection, purchased by, among others, Philippe Starck, Lidewij Edelkoort and Center Pompidou in Paris. Tjep. is also responsible for two other recent major art projects in the public space. The Bicycloud on the Rokin in Amsterdam is a poetic work of art and bicycle storage that extends over more than 100 meters. In September 2019 the Zwerm light installation in Eindhoven was put into operation. The design around the Montgomery tunnel contains 700 steel birds. 1400 LED lights move along like a swarm of traffic.
