Tara Steenvoorden (Master of Architecture) wins Archiprix 2013

Tara Steenvoorden (links) wint Archiprix 2013. Eervolle vermelding voor Ricky Rijkenberg.

Tara Steenvoorden wint Archiprix 2013

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Architecture student Tara Steenvoorden was awarded the Archiprix 2013 for her graduation project 'Pas-de-deux: a National Ballet School in Amsterdam'. Steenvoorden was presented with the award on 22 June at the Hofpoort, Rotterdam. Student Ricky Rijkenberg received an honourable mention.

Architecture student Tara Steenvoorden was awarded the Archiprix 2013 for her graduation project 'Pas-de-deux: a National Ballet School in Amsterdam'. Steenvoorden was presented with the award on 22 June at the Hofpoort, Rotterdam. Student Ricky Rijkenberg received an honourable mention.

Archiprix is awarded annually to the best graduation projects of Dutch design programmes. Tara Steenvoorden’s graduation project transformed the former law courts on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam into a dance academy. Now, young talented dancers can enjoy a dynamic, inspiring environment – an unexpected gem nestling within a sombre, monumental exterior that has become a ‘lantern in the city’. In a thoughtful, balanced process driven neither by a nostalgic urge to conserve nor an impulse to demolish, Steenvoorden made the building future-ready.

The jury report on the winning design remarks: “The adaption of the Palace of Justice on the Prinsengracht to its new function as the National Ballet School is skilful and convincing. The beautifully executed report sets out the vision behind the design. Originally built as an orphanage in the early seventeenth century, the complex served as a law court in 1825, and this history has been well researched. Steenvoorden’s resulting design succeeds in combining the new function and the existing building, and is particularly striking in its creation of new spaces and experiences in the complex. The design sets out – and achieves – the objective of enhancing the sense of movement throughout the space, and the movement of dance. Steenvoorden decided not to pursue a single vigorous intervention, nor a design strategy aimed at accentuating the contrast between old and new. The designer became one with the building and, with consummate professionalism, designed a fluid, consistent whole. The design is materialized with elegance and simplicity, and the end result is a breath-taking spatiality."

Honourable mention
Ricky Rijkenberg (Architecture MA programme) received an honourable mention for her graduation project 'Zutritt Verboten: A time capsule for the city of Vienna’, a design that creates an extraordinary visualization of the city’s remarkable history.

2013 marks the fifth year in a row that the Academy of Architecture has been awarded first prize, together with numerous honourable mentions. The winner(s) of the Archiprix contest will go on to take part in Archiprix International. For more information about these graduation projects and for an overview of all nominated projects, please visit www.academievanbouwkunst.nl and www.archiprix.nl.

You can view all the graduation projects of the Academy of Architecture students at the website www.ahk.nl/bouwkunst/lichting/2013.

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