Amsterdam, north of the Y-river, will continue its transformation from a place of conquerors, pioneers and settlers into a strong and diverse community; a new neighborhood for an optimistic group of people with expanded views and expansive horizons. This type of dynamism requires bold moves, yet the courage to be flexible. Other than more determined buildings OPEN FORT will mutate and evolve as this part of Amsterdam discovers its new incarnation.

OPEN FORT is a strong but pliable structure. Its sheer scale and brawny meandering shape allows for flexibility and generosity on other levels such as the way it operates and the typologies it houses. Rather than a building, it is an expressive framework that can be occupied depending on needs and occasions, a structure that can adapt over time without losing its presence and character. It is a base for the borough, a place where people can develop their dreams, can try and fail and try again. It will have lavish areas on the higher floors, with mesmerizing views over Y and city center, and more intimate ground related places where people can explore, discover and produce. The fort finds its strength through the occupation and participation by the life it takes in.

The fort takes cues from the New York City block, operating somewhere between a superblock and a piece of city. The form is generated by a series of terracing slabs that jointly form a porous, absorptive mountain. The kilometer long structure twists and terraces out to create a multitude of spatial qualities: concave - convex, terraced-straight, open - close, interior - exterior. The meandering form provides moments of protection, sensation, secretion, absorption, and diffusion along the dynamic Y front.

Plan.

The deep frontal terraces reach out to towards the landscape and accommodate circulation - streets in the air - and spaces to work and play. They are areas to appropriate; places for green and views. The terraces also shade direct sun on the façade. The interior court, a place of natural calm, can be reached where floors lift and the program erodes. The Grasweg penetrates straight through the block, and exits on the opposite side.

Its wealth of spatial qualities tolerates a multitude of people and activities. Larger slabs at the bottom will attract an array of small industries, creative businesses, and public facilities. As the slabs become smaller at the higher levels, they become attractive for lofts, apartments and live/work units. By generously dimensioning structure and infrastructure a flexible and thus sustainability structure is achieved. Extra ceiling height and over dimensioned slabs stairs, and passageways will attract and stimulate diverse usage. The building is mountable by the public; the roof can be reached, for a picnic, a view or a morning jog. The public circulation ties in to the new paths along the waterway, making it an integral part of a new necklace of public spaces. The occupation of the fort will strengthen it; it will be defended by the new occupiers.

The building can be financed over time by identifying and writing off separate building components over an extended time. The over dimensioned structure will have a lifespan of a hundred years for instance, whereas party walls and secondary infill will have a quicker turnaround. This allows the building to gain ‘historical capital’ and become an integral part of a new part of the city.