Roel van Herpt and Geer Schakel
What public uses can be found for Kop Dijksgracht, an area of more than 9,000 m2 in the heart of Amsterdam's Oostelijk Havengebied?
Despite Kop Dijksgracht's tremendous central location, the area suffers from poor access, cluttered public space and noise from the railway line. In close consultation with the municipality of Amsterdam's Projectbureau Zuidelijke IJoever, LAgroup investigated possible public functions for Kop Dijksgracht. The study was based on four pre-determined concepts: a swimming pool, wellness, culture and a hotel. We started by working out the concepts in terms of functions, scale and references. We then assessed the concepts on the basis of minimum land yield, financial independence, market opportunities, liveliness, identity, urban appeal and accessibility. The study fomed the basis for a political decision on the best development model for Kop Dijksgracht. The chosen model should benefit not only the residents of Amsterdam's city centre but also enhance the tourism facilities in the city centre.