Picture by: pdoyen @ flickr
"Het Schip" - the Ship - is a nickname for the third of three housing blocks designed in 1917 by Michel de Klerk for the Spaarndammerbuurt, a working class district in the northwesterly edge of Amsterdam. It is bordered by the railway line to Haarlem on one side and the estuary harbour installations on the other. It is rather isolated from the rest of the city and has retained its architectural unity. During the first three decades of the century, dwellings were built for dockers and railway workers on this triangular 54 acre site.
Between 1913 and 1921, De Klerk designed three housing blocks for this district, in his own style. His contemporaries were swift to acknowledge them as significant examples of the new architecture of the Amsterdam School. Today De Klerk's buildings are still the predominating architectural features of the district.
The changes in scale and colour, seem to cause the building's façade to ripple as though caressed by a breeze; gentle waves toss "the ship" upon an imaginary sea.
Situated on a truly impossible triangular lot, De Klerk moulded the most bizarre shapes into an unforgetable and world famous unit. The Ship makes a statement for social housing construction; it encourages us to continue building with respect for the residents.
The Ship's appearance is unconventional from all angles. The building contains 102 homes for the working class, a small meeting hall and a post office, which as of 2001 is the museum of the Amsterdam School.
To go to the show house of these housing blocks to see how the houses were furnished with Amsterdam School style furniture also
then click on second button from the right.