Photos by Jorn Konijn
The Story of Another Building
Het verhaal van een ander gebouw - 65 jaar Burgerweeshuis The story of another building - 65 years of the Burgerweeshuis Graphic design for an Exhibition, 2025. The Burgerweeshuis orphanage on IJsbaanpad in Amsterdam was designed by Aldo van Eyck in 1955 to provide shelter for orphaned children. Completed in 1960, the complex was a prime example of innovative architecture at the time. The building consists of flowing indoor and outdoor spaces that blur the boundary between the building and the city. The orphanage looks like a kasbah or even a labyrinth, revealing the influence of Van Eyck's fascination with African architecture. His experience in designing many playgrounds is also reflected in the design. It is a building without hierarchy, with surprising use of materials and colors and an unprecedented floor plan. Over time, the orphans left the building and it was largely left empty. As the building slowly crumbled, a plan was made in the 1980s to demolish part of the Burgerweeshuis. A massive campaign, which received support from around the world, prevented the demolition. The Netherlands had rediscovered a post-war monument.