studio job: iconic facades

studio job has designed and produced more than 50 compositions of ornamental reliefs which have been casted in concrete tableaux and integrated into the facades of a new five building complex, in amsterdam. the tableaux cover-up to 800m2 (24 000 ft2).

‘for this project we have chosen a universal iconography that appeals to the multicultural background of this specific block. in floral ornaments you can see petrified flower boxes while the animal tableaux can make you think of the arch of noah. other ornaments picture machines, clockworks and sports, referring to the imagery of socialism. sometimes the ornaments are very classical and strict, in other cases it seems as if everything has been thrown on a chaotic heap.‘ – SJ

project credits: commissioned by far west / urban district slotervaart amsterdam consultancy kunst en bedrijf architect köther salman koedijk architecten photography by jannes linders location jatopa, corner of jan tooropstraat and jan evertsenstraat, amsterdam

some of the iconography includes a recorder, paper clips, industrial tools, horseshoes and dragon flies

how the ornamental relief appears on the facadehummingbirds, helicopters, clouds, airplanes, stars…

syringes, wine glasses, dice, safety pins, bananas, dog bones…

butterflies and insects

centipedes and spiders…

basket-ball, pretzels, cars, tennis balls, forks…

detail of the relief