Café OPEN

The railway bridge on the Westerdokseiland in Amsterdam is one of the last surviving pivot bridges in the Netherlands. Bridge No 19 S was constructed in 1922 as a modernized railway connection between the Westelijk Stationseiland and the Westerdokseiland, which was at that time being transformed into a large shunting-yard for the railways. The bridge, which had long fallen into disuse, was still a striking object, historically as well as architecturally. The City of Amsterdam was therefore keen to preserve this showpiece on the river IJ and decided to give the monumental bridge a public function. Because of the location and the panoramic views it was decided to use it as a café-restaurant.
The City Council organized a design competition in 2005 and the entry by de Architekten Cie. was chosen from the 14 submissions.
OPEN café-restaurant is a pure, transparent, glass volume that fi ts precisely onto the existing bridge. It is composed of a fl oor, a roof and a glazed façade that is formed entirely of pivotal windows, all of which can be opened. The pivotal windows add a subtle refi nement to the principle of the puristic, modernistic box and introduce the quality of elegant, ndulating movement. These window frames were specially designed in collaboration with the company Eurodeur. A staircase and a lift attached to the disused brick pillar on the quayside, provide access to an outdoor serving area on top of it, from which visitors can reach OPEN via a footbridge across the water.