The new Holland Boulevard and Rijksmuseum at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport officially opened.
With this international departure hall, NEXT architects designed a unique area bringing together commerce, art and culture.
The Holland Boulevard is the area between Lounge 2 and Lounge 3 behind the passport control gates. This area will be reorganized and transformed, as part of the continuous renewal process of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, in order to increase the passengers' comfort and ease of traveling. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of the biggest and crowdiest airports of Europe. In 2016, the year that the airport celebrates its' 100-years anniversary, Schiphol expects to welcome 60 million travellers.
The Dutch polder landscape was the main source of inspiration behind this vast space of 5,000 m2. It comprises various typical Dutch-inspired sitting rooms, each one with their own character and ambiance. The systematic design of the Dutch landscape gives a quick overview to hasty passengers; while passengers who are staying longer can wander through the landscape and discover new places. This makes each visit to the Holland Boulevard a stimulating experience, or a place to rest.
The Rijksmuseum
This is the highlight of Holland Boulevard: a modern and innovative framework for the masterpieces exhibited by the Rijksmuseum at Schiphol Airport. The curved walls presented an additional challenge and were realised by gluing together 10.000 strips of glass of 7 cm wide to form a solid glass wall. "The pavilion's glass structure has a truly unique composition that is, above all, circular. This means that all single elements can be removed," says Martin Weerheim, project leader at Saint-Gobain Glassolutions, who realised the U-shaped museum walls.
"The resulting semi-transparent walls filter the light, creating a gradual transition from the hustle and bustle of Schiphol Airport to the art treasures shown by the Rijksmuseum," adds Bart Reuser of NEXT.