Zaadkoepel Hortus, Botanical seed vault in Plantage, Netherlands.
The Zaadkoepel Hortus is a historic building within Amsterdam's Botanical Garden serving as a seed storage facility. Its domed structure and architectural details reflect the period when the garden was established and show how plant collections were managed at that time.
The building was constructed in 1683 when the Botanical Garden was founded, though it served a different purpose initially. Its conversion to a seed storage facility demonstrates how structures were repurposed to support the garden's development over time.
The building's name derives from its role as a seed storage chamber within the garden's operations. Visitors can observe how it bridges the garden's practical needs with the broader history of the city's relationship to plants and nature.
The building sits in the eastern section of the garden along Plantage Middenlaan and can be visited during regular garden hours. Access to the interior may vary depending on seasonal programming or special activities happening at the site.
The building was not originally designed for seed storage but was repurposed for this function later on, showing its adaptability. This transformation demonstrates how historical structures were flexibly modified to meet new needs of the institution.
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