Amsterdam as the port of the future. The inhabitable floating structure; as the acknowledgement of the volatile nature of cities, as a reminder of the prior port activity at the pier and as the physical link between human and water – an increasingly more critical relation to be addressed.

We propose a fleet of six ships encompassing a multitude of programs; play, learning, culture and manual labour.

Eyck’s playgrounds of the 1950’s meet Amsterdam’s vital port activities in the envisioning of a series of floating structures where empathy, knowledge and culture are the constructs to be assembled, distributed and consumed – the cargo of the future.

Floating program; due to the increasing variety of demands for the use of space and the decreasing amount of space available within the city, the programs of the boats are interchangeable, thus learning facilities for children during the day become arenas for public events in the evening and weekends. Formal transitions from intimate spaces of learning through semi public courtyard-bridges to public structures including a public square and cultural activities secures a level of structure.

The proposed structures are encircling the old pier which is envisioned to be taken over by the present invasive nature. Thus the pier itself maintains its existing role as a recreational retreat and experimental laboratory within the dense and vibrant metropolis of Amsterdam.