BUILDING THE FUTURE
CONSERVATORIUM COMES TO BEATRIXPARK
The Conservatorium van Amsterdam music academy is set to open an annex
Chapel & Convict buildings. Marleen
in Beatrixpark in Zuidas, in the Kapel & Convict (Chapel & Convict) buildings.
Munniksma, Chair of the Munisami
The City of Amsterdam and Amsterdam School of the Arts have signed a
Association of Friends of Beatrixpark:
contract to this effect.
‘The Association of Friends of
Continuing focus on further reinforcing ties with Zuidas
Beatrixpark board members were able
On 28 September the Hello Zuidas team met with its members to discuss the
RESIDENTIAL DESIGN
On 7 October 2019 the two parties
terraces with views overlooking the
to contribute ideas for the development
impact of COVID-19 on Zuidas. Recent months saw many organizations busy
ALSO CHANGING
signed a letter of intent. The
park. The operator is not yet known.
of a design. We believe it’s important for
with plans and protocols to align their business operations with the measures.
That search for new ways to organize
the atmosphere and experience of the
What has this period been like for them? And what’s their outlook on the future?
space inside buildings is familiar to Ton
Kapel & Convict buildings because it
WHAT LOCAL RESIDENTS WANT
park, as it is now, to be maintained and
With contributions from RAI Amsterdam, ABN AMRO, VU Amsterdam, Maarsen
Boon, development director at Maarsen
has outgrown its current location at
The provisional design takes account
enhanced.’
Groep and the Municipality of Amsterdam.
Groep (involved in the development of
Oosterdok. The teaching will take place
of the wishes of local residents and
in Convict, where there will also be
stakeholders as well as the historic
OPENING IN 2022
FLEXIBILITY IN
employees working from home. ‘This
House and others). ‘There’s a chance
practice rooms. Kapel will have a small
value of the Kapel & Convict buildings
In the months ahead, we will be working
OFFICE BUILDINGS
major change in capacity needs is giving
the coronavirus crisis will effect a lasting
concert hall, where classical and other
and use of the park. A feasibility study
on the definitive design, in order to
ABN AMRO was one of the pioneers
us a lot to think about’, said Petran van
change on residential design, for example
public concerts will be held throughout
was conducted in 2019, followed
ensure that construction can begin
in what is now Zuidas. Before the
Heel, Construction and Real Estate Sector
making spaces for work and study a
the year. The catering facilities, to
by intensive collaboration between
in the summer of 2021, if everything
coronavirus outbreak, more than 6,000
banker at ABN AMRO. ‘Offices in Zuidas
standard part of home floor plans.’ The
be based in Kapel, will be public and
the Conservatorium, Zuidas, the
goes to plan. The Conservatorium is
people worked at its headquarters
aren’t expected to shrink, but many office
trend to convert office buildings into
accessible to students, visitors and
Association of Friends of Beatrixpark
then scheduled to move in a year later,
on Gustav Mahlerplein. The situation
tenants are now having to rethink their
apartments won’t affect Zuidas any time
local residents. There will also be two
and people living close to the existing
during the summer of 2022.
is rather different now, with most
setup both internally and externally.’
soon – there’s still so much building land
Conservatorium wants to move to the
Text Jos Moerkamp • Photography Jan Vonk
the Hourglass, Gershwin Brothers, Noma
12 •
Photography Marcel Steinbach
