The Bushuis Faculty Library

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The Bushuis Faculty Library

Architecture

Renovation

Office

Education

Architecture

Renovation

Office

Education

The Bushuis Faculty Library , Amsterdam

Historic Bushuis and Oost-Indisch Huis transformed into faculty library

Atelier PRO has renovated the so-called Bushuis, located on the corner of the Kloveniersburgwal and the Oude Hoogstraat, along with part of the adjacent Oost-Indisch Huis, to serve as the library for the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. The current Bushuis was built in a neo-style at the end of the nineteenth century. The section known as the Oost-Indisch Huis is much older, though it had lost much of its original grandeur over time. Prior to our commission, a reconstruction of the VOC's so-called Governors' Room had already been carried out.

Genomineerd voor:

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Awards

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Client

College van Bestuur, Universiteit van Amsterdam

Location

Amsterdam

Size

5.300 m²

Period

1998

—

present

2001

Completion

2001

Project status

Opgeleverd

Open structure

The main entrance to the library is located on the Kloveniersburgwal. By removing non-load-bearing walls and creating large openings in the longitudinal load-bearing wall, the internal structure of the Bushuis has been opened up and made legible. The attic of the Bushuis is now a large space for study areas with a mezzanine; the original wooden floor beams have been left exposed.

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Courtyard

The circulation structure distinguishes between a secure area and a zone that remains freely accessible, even in the evening. The library can also be reached via the Oost-Indisch Huis, which has been incorporated into the new circulation layout. The integration of the library with the rest of the faculty is crowned by a glass roof over the second courtyard. With this covered courtyard, which has been designed as a café terrace, the amorphous complex has been given a heart.

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