Stefanie Krietemeijer

B.I.E.B

Baas In Eigen Buik (=women’s right to choose) - a center for responsible reproduction & knowledge on the topic

Unintended pregnancies have always existed. In the 1970s, women campaigned to remove abortion from the Dutch Penal Code. However, abortion remains liste there. Although it is now legal, it is still not treated as a regular medical procedure and is not covered by standard healthcare. Nowadays, abortion clinics in the Netherlands are located in existing buildings that were not specifically designed for this procedure. This means that every clinic has had to adapt to an existing space and location. A building for an intervention loaded with diverse emotions (loss, shame, relief) and opinions (for, against, murder, master of one's own body). 

In my graduation project B.I.E.B (Baas In Eigen Buik =women’s right to choose), I investigate both the current functioning and design of abortion clinics and the emotional and spatial aspects of visiting such a clinic. It is time for a dedicated building, a specific typology and a specific place in the city.  

I call my design ‘a centre for conscious and responsible reproduction’. An accessible and inviting place, located at a busy spot in Amsterdam, which is not intimidating to enter. The abortion clinic will be expanded with a programme focussed on reproduction and sexuality, which will include prevention, sterilisation, knowledge sharing and education. There is a significant taboo surrounding abortion, and for many people, a visit to the clinic is often a one-off and discreet experience. Therefore, the boundary between open, public and private is very important at this new place. 

The flexible boundaries of my design allow the building to be approached and used in different ways, both by visitors and passers-by as well as local residents. The use of ‘wall peels’ creates corridors, squares, courtyards, pavilions and green spaces; places that feel dynamic, sheltered and intimate. The wall are positioned in such a way that you gradually move from a busy, public environment to a quiet, private space. The design functions not only as a clinic, but also as a retreat; a place of rest on Amsterdam's busy traffic artery. 

Graduation date: 30 September 2024
Graduation committee: Ira Koers (mentor), Uri Gilad, Lorien Beijaert, Arna Mačkić
Additional members for the exam: Micha de Haas, Freyke Hartemink