Film Institute in Amsterdam
Traffic is thick on the IJ, the body of water on Amsterdam’s north side. Amid the ferries and boats coming and going o, one large, elegant vessel stands out: the film institute, known here as Eye, brings to mind a futuristic yacht at port. Thanks to the relocation of Shell Research Center, which was until recently also situated in Amsterdam Noord, the area has been developed as a new, high-profile city quarter. The Shell Tower remains as a relic and, in combination with the film institute, creates a striking ensemble. Visitors arrive at the institute by ferry – free of cost – from the central station directly opposite it. A wedge-shaped stair leads to the main entrance, which is marked by a cantilevering roof. The stair-as-landscape theme turns up again inside the EYE: here it gives shape to the Arena – the building’s centrepiece and circulation hub. A restaurant, bar and café are scattered casually throughout the Arena. At the Eye, the program centres on movies; they are shown, discussed, restored and digitalised. The institute’s amenities include four movie theatres, exhibition spaces, laboratories and workshops.
