IMPROVISED HOMES IN AMSTERDAM INDUSTRIAL SQUATS

© DAVID CARR-SMITH 2005 : all images & text are copyrighted - please accredit text quotes - image reproduction must be negotiated via dave@artinst.entadsl.com

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BOOK: DAVID CARR-SMITH - IMPROVISED ARCHITECTURE IN AMSTERDAM INDUSTRIAL SQUATS & COLLECTIVES

"TETTERODE" SQUAT 1981-/COLLECTIVE 1986 to-- - p5-1(of 13)

DACOSTAKADE: MERKELBACH APARTMENTS

< TETTERODE - p1: INTRODUCTION <

< TETTERODE - p2: PUBLIC-USE & WORK-SPACES <

< TETTERODE - p2-1: RESIDENTIAL DOMAINS <

< TETTERODE - p3: DACOSTAKADE BUILDINGS: MERKELBACH & HARTCAMP <

< TETTERODE - p4: DACOSTAKADE: MERKELBACH APTS <

< TETTERODE - p5: DACOSTAKADE: MERKELBACH APTS <

TETTERODE - p5-1: DACOSTAKADE: MERKELBACH APTS <

> TETTERODE - p6: DACOSTAKADE: MERKELBACH APTS >

> TETTERODE - p7: DACOSTAKADE: HARTCAMP APTS >

> TETTERODE - p7-1: DACOSTAKADE: HARTCAMP APTS >

> TETTERODE - p8: DACOSTAKADE: HARTCAMP APTS >

> TETTERODE - p8-1: DACOSTAKADE: HARTCAMP APTS >

> TETTERODE - p8-2: DACOSTAKADE: HARTCAMP APTS >

> TETTERODE - p9: BILDERDIJKSTRAAT BUILDINGS >

> TETTERODE - p10: BILDERDIJKSTRAAT APTS >

> TETTERODE - p11: BILDERDIJKSTRAAT APTS >

> TETTERODE - p12: BILDERDIJKSTRAAT APTS >

> TETTERODE - p13: BILDERDIJKSTRAAT APTS >

MERKELBACH: HOMES & STUDIO-APTS - cont ...

On this page are shown level-4 enclave's three living-spaces:

YVONNE DRÖGE - [recorded: 2008]
PAOLO HARTGERS - [recorded: 2008]
TINA SCHRAMEIJER - [recorded: 1993] / TITUS & ESTHER - [recorded: 2008]

MERKELBACH: mb-L4 ENCLAVE


MERKELBACH: PLAN - LEVEL 4 ENCLAVE [mb-L4] (Architect-Drawing 1986 / top is EEN)	MERKELBACH: PLAN - LEVEL 4 ENCLAVE [mb-L4] (Plan: Mikel v Gelderen 2006 / info 2008 / top is EEN)

DACOSTAKADE mb/dc-L4 LANDING: mb-L4 ENCLAVE DOOR & LIFT
(pic 8-93 / to NNE)

MERKELBACH mb-L4 ENCLAVE DOOR EXTERIOR:
(pic 8-93 / to NNW)

mb-L4 ENCLAVE PASSAGE
(pic 29-4-08 / to NNE)

From the entry section of the encalve's passage past Louise / now Yvonne's apt; past the open 'front-door' of Paolo's apt (open to his kitchen); to the far end domain of Tina / now Titus and Ester.

YVONNE DRÖGE APT & STUDIO (1995 --) [mb-L4 / SE-end - 2 bays] [recorded 2008] ... in process

[This space was not visited/recorded before april 2008]

The apt is "almost unchanged" since the previous owner (Louise) designed and made it. [Q "including the spiral mezzanine stair" !?]
- "by day it's a studio, by night a childrens' playground". <Q is this a 'family apt'?
She also has a small workroom [Q in//entered via the converted enclave wc/washroom opposite her apt entry ?].
Yvonne's previous apt (an independent space in the SE corner of Bilderdijk old building) is now in use by an associate as a studio.
In the pics below the apt is being used by Yvonne and two assistants to prepare a public art work.
At is SW corner the apt wraps the dc central lift.


YVONNE APT: E-SIDE MAIN SPACE TO ENTRY (paste-up 2-pics 29-4-08 / to SW)	YVONNE APT: MAIN SPACE - S WALL (pic 29-4-08 / to SSW) Behind the semi-dividing wall is a secondary space. At its east end is a full-height work-table space and at its west end a bed space with an office mezzanine occupying its upper half. At the far end is a small kitchen alcove whose depth is limited by the central dc lift-shaft.	YVONNE APT: E-SIDE MAIN SPACE - E END (pic 29-4-08 / to N) "By day its a studio, by night a childrens' playground".

YVONNE APT: E-SIDE SECONDARY-SPACE - WORK-TABLE SPACE FROM BED (pic 29-4-08 / to NE)	YVONNE APT: E-SIDE SECONDARY-SPACE - BED-SPACE (pic 29-4-08 / to SW) The length of this space behind the dividing wall is truncated by the central dc lift - on its end wall is a deceptive mirror. Over the bed space is the office mezzanine.	YVONNE APT: E-SIDE SECONDARY-SPACE - BED-SPACE - MEZZANINE STAIR (pic 29-4-08 / to SSW) The steel stair is gated against child access.

YVONNE APT: E-SIDE SECONDARY-SPACE - MEZZANINE OFFICE (pic 29-4-08 / to N) A small mezzanine bridges the secondary space leaving a full height windowed-space over the work-table below.	YVONNE APT: E-SIDE MAIN SPACE - KITCHEN & APT ENTRY-DOOR (pic 29-4-08 / to S) Pushing the kitchen into the corner beside the entry door where the apt is narrowed by the central dc lift-shaft (behind the sink-wall) - signals that food preparation, though necessary, must minimally intrude on the apt's other functions.	YVONNE APT: W-SIDE WORK-ROOM - FROM ENTRY PASSAGE (pic 29-4-08 / to W) Across the enclave passage, opposite the apt's 'front-door', a small workroom has benen made in the erstwhile enclave wash/wc facility.

YVONNE APT: W-SIDE WORK-ROOM (pic 29-4-08 / to SW)

PAOLO HARTGERS APT & STUDIO (1994 - extended 2006 --) [mb-L4 / E-side cntr - 2 bays ] [recorded 2008]
[This space was not visited/recorded before april 2008]

Paolo moved into the south bay (his present domestic portion) in 1994 and used it for both living and working. In 2006 he added the north bay which became his workshop/studio. From that time he also developed both bays together as a single living-space. This whole living-space is still in process - especially the workshop portion.


PAOLO APT: S-SPACE DOMESTIC - KITCHEN & APT ENTRY (pic 29-4-08 / to SW) Paolo's enclave passage 'front-door' opens into his kitchen, under the bed mezzanine - bikes are parked outside in the enclave passage. The floor of the sitting/social area is raised to window level, affording the luxury of seeming to include in its space the magnificent Dacostakade and city view. (Two other Merkelback apts adopted the same solution: Theo's located in a similar position on the floor above and Anja/Frank's in their Courtyard-facing L2 space.)	PAOLO APT: S-SPACE DOMESTIC - KITCHEN (pic 29-4-08 / to NE) From the kitchen/lobby - made directly on Merkelbach's ubiquitous concrete floor - one mounts five steps onto the raised wooden surface of the woonkamer, as if climbing onto the kitchen's north side worktop - Paolo's son calls it a "table-floor".	PAOLO APT: S-SPACE DOMESTIC - KITCHEN (pic 29-4-08 / to E) In the kitchen area the south boundary wall of the living-space is tiled.

PAOLO APT: S-SPACE DOMESTIC - WORK DESK (pic 29-4-08 / to SSW) Paolo intends to move the bedroom mezzanine stair to its north end against the wall.	PAOLO APT: S-SPACE DOMESTIC - FLOOR & WINDOW AT NIGHT (pic 21-4-08 / to EES) The sitting area's raised floor has three large trapdoors - near the window is one over a bath.	PAOLO APT: S-SPACE DOMESTIC - WINDOW AT NIGHT (pic 21-4-08 / to EES)

PAOLO APT: S-SPACE DOMESTIC - WINDOW S END (pic 29-4-08 / to SE)	PAOLO APT: S-SPACE DOMESTIC - ENTRY TO N STUDIO (pic 29-4-08 / to NW)	PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO - ENTRY TO S DOMESTIC (pic 29-4-08 / to SE)

PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO WITH ENTRY TO S DOMESTIC - NIGHT (pic 21-4-08 / to EES)	PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO - NIGHT (pic 21-4-08 / to WWS) The workshop is in process. Paolo made the steel mezzanine. A shower will be installed under it in the NW corner	PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO (pic 29-4-08 / to SW)

PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO (pic 29-4-08 / to WWS)	PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO FROM UNDER MEZZANINE (pic 29-4-08 / to NE)	PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO - N WALL WITH UMBRELLA LAMP - NIGHT (pic 21-4-08 / to N)

PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO - UMBRELLA LAMP - NIGHT (pic 21-4-08 / to NW)	PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO - STAIR TO MEZZANINE - NIGHT (pic 21-4-08 / to NE) Welded steel and plywood.	PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO MEZZANINE - STAIR ENTRY (pic 29-4-08 / to S)

PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO MEZZANINE - N END (paste-up 2-pics 29-4-08 / to NW) Paolo made the studio mezzanine from welded steel.	PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO MEZZANINE BALUSTRADE - NIGHT (pic 21-4-08 / to N)	PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO MEZZANINE - VIEW OF STUDIO - NIGHT (pic 21-4-08 / to EEN)

PAOLO APT: N-SPACE STUDIO MEZZANINE - VIEW OF STUDIO (pic 29-4-08 / to NE)

TINA SCHRAMEIJER APT & STUDIO (1986 - 2002) [mb-L4 / N-end whole E to W - equiv 2 bays] [recorded 1990 / 93]
[This living-space was recorded again in 2008 when occupied by Titus and Esther - both versions are shown below.]

Tina Schrameijer has used spaces on mb-L4 for making ceramics since 1982, while living in another squat. After Tetterode's legalisation (and the application of fire regs, renovation money, and the arrival of new people wanting smaller cheaper spaces) the mb-L4 floor was re-planned and permanent divisions built.

Facing imminent eviction from her outside living-place, Tina took a narrow space across the north end of mb-L4 (approx. 5·5m x 17m), analogous to Thom Pucky’s [mb-L2], but roughly rectangular, with angled west-corner windows and a strip-window spanning the top of the long north-wall. She divided it into halves with the apt in the west to catch the sun.

She began building in summer ‘86 and moved in to live in ‘87. The big 36m² all-wood mezzanine-platform was architect-checked for safety to qualify for grant money, its joists hang on the building’s concrete piers (not on the Collective’s cement-block walls) with a column at the junction of its big fronting beams. This column’s nine varnished drums are cylindrical cores cut from walls for heating-flues during renovation works (she collected the whole building's supply), 25cm steel pins bridge their cemented joints; the beam-junction is cased in cement with marble fragments and the tenth drum supports a ceramic chess-board (played from her favourite swing and stirrup position); the masks are African. The column stands on the factory’s concrete floor, its round foot in a triangular ceramic goldfish pool. The plank floor is nailed to thin joists over polystyrene insulation laid on the cold concrete.

Tucked under the platform against the studio wall, the kitchen and bathroom furniture and plumbing are her make, with found-basin and matching second-hand bath. The bathroom is a venue for ceramic jokes: on its ceramic floor are 3-D feet which one must step between (in human dwellings convenience can be even painfully subservient to other needs!).

The stair was made by a carpenter to her sketch - swopped for a ceramic chess-board. With the advent of a crawling child the mezzanine’s balustrade was necessary (64 ‘HEMA’ broom-sticks - the shop objected!). Though still furnished as a social sitting-space the railed space seems unresolved: become the child's-floor/cage; at its rear is a mosquito-curtained bed-alcove, looking over the adjoining studio through street-found glass. Nothing is new but the block walls, broom-sticks and the white kitchen tiles, the furniture is ‘family’ or off the street.


TINA APT (pic 8-90 / to NE)	TINA APT: VIEW FROM MEZZANINE STAIR (pic 8-93 / to SSW)	TINA APT: WITH ENTRY (pic 8-93 / to SE)

TINA APT: MEZZANINE FACADE DETAIL - COLUMN TOP CHESS PLAYING 'SWING-SEAT' (pic 8-93 / to E) The ceramic chess board tops the pillar. One player sits on the mezzanine floor, the other sits outside - riding the swing-seat with feet in stirrups. The two masks are African ###	TINA APT: COLUMN FOOT & CERAMIC FISH POND (pic 8-93 / to EES)	TINA APT: COLUMN-DRUMS (WALL CUT-OUTS FOR HEATING-FLUES) (pic 8-93 / to ?)

TINA APT: FROM UNDER MEZANNINE (pic 8-93 / to SSW)	TINA APT: CONSOLE TABLE (pic 8-93 / to SW) An astonishingly minimal structure of ten bricks and marble slab.	TINA APT: NORTH WALL (pic 8-93 / to NNW)

TINA APT: KITCHEN - UNDER MEZZANINE'S NE CORNER (pic 8-93 / to NE)	TINA APT: BATHROOM EXTERIOR - UNDER MEZZANINE'S SE CORNER (pic 8-93 / to EEN)	TINA APT: BATHROOM INTERIOR (pic 8-93 / to EES) The ceramic cladding is ### punctuated and edged with Tina's own tiles - flat and 3D (eg: feet on floor, bath and wall).

TINA APT: BATHROOM INTERIOR (pic 8-93 / to SE)	TINA APT: VIEW FROM MEZZANINE - STAIR (pic 8-93 / to SW)	TINA APT: VIEW FROM MEZZANINE - WINDOWS (pic 8-93 / to WWS) From levels 3 to 5 Merkelbach's NW corner window is angled to face west.

TINA APT: MEZZANINE W-END (pic 8-93 / to SW)	TINA APT: MEZZANINE E-END - BED WITH VIEW OF STUDIO & DACOSTAKADE BEYOND (pic 8-93 / to NE)

TITUS & ESTHER APT & STUDIO (2006 --) [mb-L4 / N-end whole E to W + W-side N - equiv 3 bays] [recorded 2008]
[Tina Schrameijer's space became available in 2006 and was taken by Titus and Esther]

This is another living-space recorded in 2008 that is in process of being made. ... in process


TITUS & ESTHER APT: MAIN SPACE (WEST) - MEZZANINE END (pic 21-4-08 / to NE) Titus made the mezzanine.	TITUS & ESTHER APT: MAIN SPACE (WEST) - MEZZANINE END (pic 21-4-08 / to E)	TITUS & ESTHER APT: MAIN SPACE (WEST) - MEZZANINE BALUSTRADE DETAIL (pic 21-4-08 / to SE)

TITUS & ESTHER APT: MAIN SPACE (WEST) - UNDER MEZZANINE (pic 21-4-08 / to NW)	TITUS & ESTHER APT: MAIN SPACE (WEST) - NORTH WALL (pic 21-4-08 / to N) This is Tetterode's north-end wall.	TITUS & ESTHER APT: MAIN SPACE (WEST) KITCHEN (pic 21-4-08 / to S) The kitchen fittings are still wrapped.

TITUS & ESTHER APT: MAIN SPACE (EAST) - ESTHER'S STUDIO (pic 21-4-08 / to WWS) [Much of Tina's still remains.]	TITUS & ESTHER APT: SUB SPACE (pic 21-4-08 / to NE) [Much of Tina's still remains.]	TITUS & ESTHER APT: SUB SPACE - MEZZANINE VIEW (paste-up 2-pics 21-4-08 / to SW) [Much of Tina's still remains.]