“The “Na-Druk-Geluk-Brug” is part of the new public space around the Olympic stadium in the ‘Noord-Zuid As’ area of Amsterdam. The 1928 Olympic stadium was completely renovated and updated to contemporary standards in the late nineties while considering the spirit of the original design made by Jan Wils.
The stadium is named in one breath with Berlage’s famous Plan Zuid because of his geometry and horizontality. Nowadays it is not only a statement for the Olympics in 1928, but also a host for several cultural and sports events. The bridge gives access to the public space on the north-west side of the stadium, which is designed for the urban plan of Sant and Co.
The solid appearance of the stadium is accompaniedby the pavers in the public space to the waterfront. On the other side of the water, the bridge connects to a roundabout which guides to the Aldo van Eijck’s Burgerweeshuis’ and an industrial area with block volumes.
In the design and materialisation the bridge is given an autonomous identity which is not related to the completely different worlds on both sides of the water. The autonomous identity of the bridge is strengthened by the minimal detailing. In the direction of movement towards the Olympic stadium there is a viewpoint.
The pedestrian is forced to change direction which makes him alter his view from the direction of the bridge to the surroundings. At this point the bridge makes a connection with the water by an opening in the bridge-deck and the pedestrian will get confronted with a total different vision of the bridge then that one should expect according to the bridge’s side appearance.
On the stadium side the bridge is asymmetrical connected to the square designed by Sant and Co, the branch is oriented to the north-west stand of the Olympic stadium. The program of requirements prescribes that the passage height has to have a minimum of 2,4 meters and a width of 20 meters.
The bridge should span the 40 meters over the canal which made it necessary to make beams with a construction height of at least 1,2 meter to support the vehicle deck.
The slope of the pedestrian walkway is not allowed to be more than 4% which was not possible with the given structure. The only solution possible was a separation between the vehicle deck and the pedestrian walkway. By placing the pedestrian walkway at bottom of the beams a smaller slope could be achieved” description from the architects.
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Architects: René van Zuuk Architects
Structural Engineer: ABT bv
Contractor: Gebr. Beentjes GWW bv
Area: 940 sqm
Cost: € 1.974.000
Year: 2013
Client: Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Gemeente Amsterdam, Stadsdeel Oud-Zuid
