Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
“This is going to be a high-profile project,” says Bas Kok, project manager at Vink Bouw. The sustainable construction company from Nieuwkoop is responsible for the impressive transformation of three striking silos on Zeeburgereiland. “They are characteristic remnants of the former sewage treatment plant. Because everyone knows them as ‘the silos’, we decided to name the project after them.”
The three round concrete giants will soon form a multifunctional ensemble covering more than 11,000 m². The Silos will combine various functions: a cinema with five screens, a gym, catering establishments, and striking office spaces in the superstructures above. “With a little goodwill, it will become the living room of Zeeburgereiland,” says Kok. “From the public roof garden, which connects the three silos, you will soon have a magnificent view of the city and the Markermeer.”
The redevelopment began in 2017, when Vink Bouw, together with Grayfield and Elephant Architects, won the tender from the municipality of Amsterdam. Initially, cinema operator Rialto, a hotel chain, a brewery, and catering entrepreneurs were involved, among others. “Due to the coronavirus crisis, many parties dropped out, except for Rialto,” says Kok. New partners were found in Silo Sports Club for the gym and the Ramzy Group for the hospitality industry. Rialto now owns the western silo; the other two silos and the three superstructures remain the property of 3KPropCo, in which Vink Bouw and House of Jim, among others, participate.
Although preparations are well underway, the real work has yet to begin. “The common thread in our planning is the moment when the silos and superstructures are wind and watertight. Only then can we start with the finishing work, which largely consists of box-in-box constructions with metal stud walls and ceilings.” The cinema auditoriums in particular require specialist construction techniques. “The auditoriums will be constructed with double metal stud walls and extensive sound insulation. Inside, the round shape of the silo will no longer be visible, except in the main stairwell, where we will retain that characteristic structure.”
A striking office structure rises above each silo, supported by a slender neck construction. “The facades consist of narrow window strips and horizontal aluminum composite cassettes (LeeBond; ed.),” explains Kok. “The deep-set cassettes act as sunshades: they reduce the cooling load on hot days, while still allowing the low winter sun to enter.” The champagne-colored cassettes form a circle of 24 segments with a matte coating to prevent reflection. The neck structure at the roof park also has this finish, but with fewer openings for windows and doors.
The steel structure on the silos was recently constructed. A column structure rose from the roof park, extending both upwards and outwards. The office floors protrude slightly and have a larger diameter than the floors below. They are also positioned eccentrically on the silos, giving the whole structure a dynamic character.
The completion of the project is in sight. “We expect final delivery in the fall of 2026,” concludes Kok. “Then the silos will no longer be silent witnesses to the industrial past, but the beating heart of a new part of Amsterdam—a place where work, relaxation, and socializing come together.”
