O+A: temporary shipping container city, amsterdam

‘temporary shipping container city’ by O+A, amsterdam, the netherlands all images courtesy of O+A

dutch practice O+A have just completed a temporary conversion of the NDSM shipyard into a shipping container city in northern amsterdam of the netherlands. the complex will host the 20th anniversary of the over het IJ festival, an event which runs from july 5th through the 15th is dedicated to young and experienced theatre-makers whom are challenged to use the grounds to generate site-specific theatrical performances. expressed as a 3-dimensional checkerboard pattern, the landscape of stacked units form a context of stepped stages with diverse spatial typologies for personal interpretation.

two main clusters are positioned 90 degrees to each other, forming a plaza filled with tables and chairs for an audience to observe the impromptu shows. reaching four storeys in height, the small-scale district matches the scale of the shipyard. visitors may also enjoy an open-air restaurant and cafe sheltered beneath a framework of containers supported with diagonal bracing of ratchet straps.

protected dining area

outdoor dining area

impromptu performance on the stacked containers

the stacked containers are stabilized with diagonal bracing

entry to the temporary city

at night

study model

study model

project info:

client: stichting IJ producties site: NDSM shipyard, amsterdam collaborators: van eden bouwconstructies (structural engineer), luca stappers (stage designer) team O+A: marc van asseldonk, auguste van oppen, ales hanak