Space Encounters Office for Architecture

ClinkNOORD Hostel in the former Shell laboratory in Amsterdam Noord is the Clink Hostels flagship branch. The communal programme consisted of functions that would perfectly amplify each other: a cafe, restaurant, library, cinema, self service kitchen and a night club. Wouldn’t it be interesting to deny hierarchy and have them all use the same space, like one big festival ground? In this scenario time of day instead of a designated function would dictate the use of an area. As the common area program of 1000m2 did not fit on a single floor it had to be distributed over two floors what would introduce an artificial split in the programme instead of everything pleasantly blending into each other.

Instead we proposed a sizeable intervention that consists of several platforms that are suspended at different heights and truly connect the souterrain, ground floor and atrium both visually and logistically. This “Living Stairs” is a generator of social interaction and multifunctional use as much as any other part of the common area. To preserve the quality of the large industrial floors, supporting programme like reception desk and self service kitchen are designed as expressive free standing elements. Like a stone in the river, the hostel guests stream around them effortlessly.