Pentagon, Residential complex in Amsterdam-Centrum, Netherlands
The Pentagon is a residential complex in Amsterdam-Centrum with extensive glass surfaces, curved bay windows, and open balustrades positioned above the metro tunnel near Zuiderkerk. The structure spans over the subway passage below and uses rubber blocks in its foundation to reduce vibration and noise from the train system underneath.
Architects Theo Bosch and J. van Berge designed this residential structure in 1975 during the rebuilding of the Nieuwmarkt district after significant changes in the area. The project was part of a broader effort to modernize the neighborhood and provide new housing options.
The building demonstrates how residential and commercial spaces blend together, reflecting Dutch urban design principles. You can see this in the way public areas gradually shift into private apartments throughout the structure.
The best way to view the building is from the street, where you can clearly see the distinctive curved windows and glass facades. The location is easy to reach and sits in an active neighborhood with many other places of interest nearby.
The building was specifically engineered to sit directly over the subway tunnel, representing a complex feat of construction. This solution allowed the space to be used for housing while preserving the important transport system running underneath.
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