Platform 21: A New Stage for Design, Fashion and Creation

Platform 21, an international centre for design, fashion and creation, opened to the public on Saturday 25 March in its temporary location in the remodelled St. Nicholas church at Prinses Irenestraat 19 in Amsterdam.

This new initiative in the Zuidas district will serve as a meeting point for professional designers, entrepreneurs, researchers, critics, and a growing group of creative amateurs.

Platform 21 responds to contemporary developments. Its programme varies from short, intensive closed events to broadly conceived activities for the public such as presentations, workshops, shows, lectures and parties.

Platform 21 aims to develop an identity of its own which will be both complementary to and differentiated from existing cultural offerings in the area of design and fashion, at the national as well as the international level.

The next few years will be a pioneering phase for Platform 21. In 2009 we will move into our new home close to the St. Nicholas church.

Platform 21 is an initiative of ING Real Estate, the Premsela Foundation and the city of Amsterdam. The director is Dingeman Kuilman, and the programme director is Joanna van der Zanden.

The programme at Platform 21 also provides space for activities of the Virtual Museum Zuidas. This museum organises visual arts projects that will be realised in the Zuidas district over the next few years.

Our Temporary Space and Our Future Building
Opera Designers was responsible for the renovation of the former St. Nicholas church. This round modernist building, designed in 1959 by Lau Peters, served in the past as a practice space for priests in training. Its architectonic character has been kept intact, and Opera Designers have made it into an open, multifunctional space.

Platform 21 will mainly use the upper hall for its programme of activities. This hall measures 350m2 and is equipped with a number of basic facilities, such as a flexible projection, light and hanging system which make it possible to alter the room's character quickly. On the ground floor we plan to open a restaurant and bar that will fit in with the character of Platform 21.

Space for the new building is reserved in the Beatrixkwartier (part of the Zuidas development), near the temporary location. We are currently working on a concept and programme of requirements, with Rem Koolhaas's AMO research office and others. A final choice of architect will be made later this year.

Platform 21, Prinses Irenestraat 19, 1077 WT Amsterdam.
Prinses Irenestraat is a side street of Beethovenstraat near the Beatrixpark.
Platform 21 can be reached by tram 5. Paid parking is available in the vicinity.
Platform 21: http://www.dexigner.com/directory/detail/7495.html

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