The latest edition of “Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture” — a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe — is now available. Order your copy today.
From afar, Attika Architekten’s recently completed mixed-use project in Amersfoort in the Netherlands appears unremarkable. A red brick building containing a library, theater and school for the town center of suburban Vathorst, it is not the kind of project that would typically make a stir among the architectural community — but upon closer inspection, some highly unusual details emerge.
The architects haven’t given much away about the design intention behind the quirky embellishments on certain elevations of their latest project. The Emoticon Façade might be a critique of society’s addiction to social media, a play on the convergence of our physical and digital realms, or even an attempt to usher in a fresh architectural era of … neo-postmodernism? On the other hand, it could be a practical joke played on architectural critics that bend over backwards to apply layers of complexity to follies that were never intended to possess a deeper theoretical meaning.
Either way, the details are worth exploring. Attika Architekten’s project comprises two buildings, both of which are defined by a continuous grid of brick piers and white concrete beams. On the elongated façade facing the square, the intersections of the grid are decorated with smooth domes of prefabricated concrete. The smaller building incorporates a clock face, and its intersections are given some very modern ornamental additions in the shape of 22 emoticons.
The emoticon reliefs could be viewed as a cheeky, contemporary homage to gargoyles, mischievous carved figures that funnel water away from the roofs of Gothic churches and castles. However, since they do not possess the functional role of funneling rainwater, they are perhaps more akin to grotesques, which are purely ornamental carvings found on decorative stone buildings.
By using prefabricated concrete rather than stone, Attika Architekten were able to create ornament that is smooth and subtle — the emoticons are barely noticeable and the buildings largely blend into their context.
The emoticons are supplemented with other more traditional details designed to add texture to the elevations without adding significantly to construction cost. These include metal railings in front of full-height windows, and vertical bands of gray bricks that intersect with the deep red bricks used for the rest of the façades.
The overall effect is one of subtle humor. These buildings do not scream and shout in their attempt to attract attention — a quiet wink and a nudge to contemporary culture is enough to do the work for them. Whether you are a fan of the emoticon reliefs or not, one thing cannot be disputed — Attika Architekten’s latest design is a highly original way to create a local landmark.
The latest edition of “Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture” — a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe — is now available. Order your copy today.