01 AMSTERDAM 4 | Bridge at Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Scrimburgwal
This fourth Amsterdam gallery looks at more architecture to explore facades and their doors, windows and decorative details. Constraints on time and freedom created chance encounters and a need to react quickly with what appeared as I walked around. Contemplation of composition and consideration of light were not uppermost in thoughts. Bridges were in plentiful supply but this is one of the few I photographed as part of an architectural scene. 
02 AMSTERDAM 4 | On the Damrak near Centraal Station
This long façade set well back from the camera shows the verticality of the individual facades within the terrace and across the old city. The detailing was not as interesting as elsewhere but prompted speculation on possible variation in age across the eight buildings.
03 AMSTERDAM 4 | At Oude Turfmarkt and Nieuwe Doelenstraat
I made several images of a range of buildings here but chose the one concentrating on the decorative detailing above street level and parked cars. If I manage to return on a more leisurely visit to Amsterdam I’d like to concentrate part of my time recording facades like these. The afternoon light illuminated well and clear skies offered a fine background.
04 AMSTERDAM 4 | On the Amstel
Walking on from the buildings in the previous image I passed this one on the Amstel. Its stepped gables, strong perpendicular and horizontal contrasts and the white detail against red brick appealed. The four portrait heads were set above the shop fascia and its red awning. 
05 AMSTERDAM 4 | On the Amstel
As I walked the gradual change in compass direction of the street moved the light from front to side, emphasising shadows and changing colour perceptions. In this image I liked the strong image created by the use of colourcontrasts, the decorative details and the bold letter forms.
06 AMSTERDAM 4 | On Herengracht
I thought this a fine and balanced trio of buildings and appreciated being able to include the canal and small boats into a composition free of parked cars.
07 AMSTERDAM 4 | ATHENAEUM ILLUSTRE 1632-1921 –‘Illustrous School’
This fine architectural structure in brick and stone can be seen on the Oudezijds voor Burgwal. It dates from 1571 and was moved here when in 1632 the chapel of the former Convent of St Agnes was opened as an antecedent of the University of Amsterdam. The iron gate is more recent and carries the years 1632 and 1921 within its design.
08 AMSTERDAM 4 | LABORATORIUM VOOR ARTSENIJBEREIDKUNDE
This building on Kloveniersburgwal is said to be by Willem Springer and dates from 1881. The title translates online as Laboratory for Physician Preparation and was originally laid out with laboratories, a pharmacy, instrument rooms and offices. It’s been converted into residential apartments.
09 AMSTERDAM 4 | 1st Nederlkansche Bewaarschool 1830
John Warder, a Quaker, was born in the USA in 1751 and moved to England where he was involved in shipping. In 1781 the ‘Holland’s Welfare’ was sailing from the USA to Holland when it came into his possession. It was shortly lost in a storm but its cargo was insured. A long story too complex to narrate ended with the last of the claim money used to endow this Amsterdam school for poor children in 1830. A rebuild in 1864 added the ship relief and ‘Holland’s Walvern’ above the door. (Reference search: Holland’s Welfare, John Warder, 1781)
10 AMSTERDAM 4 | A Keizersgracht façade
Photographed across the canal, I was attracted by the black, cream and white paintwork on a façade with tightly grouped windows. The central pair may front a hallway and staircase. I didn’t see the red flowers through the viewfinder!
11 AMSTERDAM 4 | Red brick house with interior shutters closed – façade detail
I liked the simplicity of the design and the use of linear decoration in light bricks against dark. The subtle curve to the lintels is a sensitive detail. The panelling pattern on the white painted shutters and the delicate 140 graphic on the door’s fanlight added to the appeal.
12 AMSTERDAM 4 | Painted brick house with interior shutters closed
The subtle use of blues, whites and black seem to work well although I don’t think that would have been my choice. The very tall windows and the door case intrigued. I’d like to see the proportion of the rooms they front: there must be high ceilings.
13 AMSTERDAM 4 | The AVRO building on the Keizersgracht
The Algemeene Vereeniging Radio Omroer acquired this originally 1760 building in 1928. Rebuilding followed to 1931 designs by Philip Warners. This involved complete demolition but the numbered blocks of the sandstone façade were rebuilt as before, with variations. This fine panel of relief lettering was one of those changes. The new building’s interior followed 1930s style, much of which remains from a renovation and conversion of 2012-2013. 
14 AMSTERDAM 4 | Entrance to a building on the Oudexijds Voorburgwal
This is an entrance detail from a 1926 extension to what was then City Hall housed in a building whose origins went back to the fifteenth century. Its tenure ended in 1988 after 180 years. The complex is now an hotel and the extension’s ground floor has become a restaurant. A close view of a similar head sculpture on the second entrance is in the AMSTERDAM 2 gallery.
15 AMSTERDAM 4 | Gebow Helios – the Helios Building on the Spui
The Art Nouveau style Gebow Helios dates from 1896 and was designed by Gerrit van Arkel 1858-1918. Twelve of his Amsterdam buildings have national monument status. It has a street level café accessed by doors to left and right, both topped by figurative decoration. The fascia carries M-BUTTINGHAUSEN FOTOGRAFIE ARTISTIQUE to advertise the photography studios originally occupying the top two storeys.
16 AMSTERDAM 4 | The Helios Building – decorative first floor detail
Since mid-teens I’ve felt affinity for art, architecture and design movements across the end of the nineteenth and into the twentieth centuries. I think that visits to the Edinburgh International Festival before my student days must have sown the seeds. Arts and crafts, art nouveau, modernism, art deco et al continue their fascination so contact with this building was welcome.
17 AMSTERDAM 4 | Theater Tuschinski - on Reguliersbreestraat- facade
Abraham Icek Tuschinski was born in Poland and emigrated to Holland where he eventually built a number of cinemas. The Theatre Tuschinski dates from 1921 and was designed by the architect Hijam Louis de Jong. Originally seating some 1400 people it now accommodates around 750. Its unique design mixes Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Peter den Beston 1894-1972 was largely responsible for the really spectacular interior. After the WW2 occupation of Holland both Tuschinski and de Jong died in Nazi concentration camps.
18 AMSTERDAM 4 | Theater Tuschinski - façade detail of tiling and metalwork
A collection of photographs of the Theater Tuschinski’s interior can be seen on Arjad Bronkhorst’s website. If I can visit Amsterdam again I’d hope to make a more organised exploration of Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Amsterdam School architecture in the City, including this building.
