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1 <br />AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS <br />BORNEO-SPORENBURG BRIDGES <br />Client: <br />Projekt Management Buro <br />Amsterdam <br />Design: <br />1998-1999 <br />Construction: <br />2000 <br />Span: <br />Sister bridges - 93m <br />Footbridge - 25m <br />The three bridges of Borneo/Sporenburg by West <br />8 play an essential role at the creation of the <br />unique atmosphere in the harbour-residential <br />area. Two of the bridges, one on the West side <br />and the other on the East side, span the 93-meter <br />wide water of the Railroad basin and connect <br />the islands of Borneo and Sporenburg. The third <br />bridge is situated in the line of the East bridge and <br />spans the 25-meter wide inland port. <br />Two peninsulas in the eastern part of the <br />Amsterdam docks, were to be exploited for water- <br />related activities, as well as 2500 low-rise dwelling <br />units, with a density of 100 units per hectare. <br />For a new interpretation of the traditional Dutch <br />canal house, West 8 suggested new types of three- <br />storey, ground-accessed houses deviating from the <br />usual terraced house in being strongly oriented to <br />the private realm by incorporating patios and roof <br />gardens. By repeating this type in a great variety of <br />dwelling modes and with maximum architectural <br />variation, an animated street elevation emerges <br />with a focus on the individual. At a larger scale, <br />a delicately balanced relationship exists between <br />the repetition of the individual dwellings, the <br />roofscape and the great scale of the docks. Three <br />immense sculptural blocks take their place as <br />landmarks in the vast expanse of houses.