PAPAVERDAM

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Competition

ABACO | collaborative design studio
arch. Braggion Alice
arch. Carabini Alessandro
arch. Lacinaj Xhuliano
arch. Speri Lucia
Papaverweg, Amsterdam - Netherlands
Europan

Urban re-activation is one of the major theme in the development of our cities. It is a complex topic that requires an interdisciplinary approach to the everchanging trends and suppose a deep dialogue between architects, urban planners, local administrations and active citizens.
Re-activation means not only defining new urban strategy but also rethinking the economic and social models that works with it. Today the challenge is to connect the new raising models of life and production - more hybrid, more nomadic, more informal and diffuse - where the contribution of hyper connected and self-organized communities and citizens is increasing.
In close connection with all the involved actors, as designers and urban planners we have a great responsibility as facilitators. We need to find a new virtuous balance between life and work.
We should imagine processes, spaces and devices that could host the emerging trends and lead us towards an optimistic future.

The project aims to break the traditional boundaries between workplace and life place, private and public, interior and exterior. Work, lifestyle and community, once disconnected facets, are completely overlapped and intersected in a truly open and flexible infrastructure. Firstly, the project is connected to the area by creating three strong and diversified public access. The built volume is then made empty on its core which is eventually populated with a flexible modular voxel structure. All the project is conceived as an attractive and highly communicative screen, with a vibrant and contemporary lifestyle going on in its micro-hybrid spaces.

Co-living, co-working, co-production.
The openness of the community is materialized through a building with permeable boundaries made of multiple layers of materials with different degrees of transparency. The regular modules, drawing the facades, act like screens showcasing the multiplicity of activities undergoing inside.
The highly communicative facade is a key feature of Papaver-dam that will enhance a sense of curiosity. Seeing what is happening invites you to enter and being in touch with the community.
You can get in Papaver-dam on three sides: the main entrance on foot or by bike is on Papaverweg, from Papaverhoek you can access to the car parking in the lower ground floor via a car lift or take the path up to the terrace on the Buiksloterkanaal. The waterside will be accessible by boat.
Behind the glazed facades, there is a calculated sequence of sliding panels and curtains - more or less transparents - that create a sort of visual game.
The project relies in such a transition between total transparency to zero transparency. This is the key to connect the building to the neighborhood and to mix together living and working activities. Managing different degrees of transparency means managing different degrees of intimacy.
It means create a hybrid territory between private and public space. Between working and living space.

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