Emerald Empire

Why did they call it the Emerald Empire? Here we stand before this striking circular apartment building, the Emerald Empire, a modern marvel in Amsterdam-Oost. Its name, a curious echo of Multatuli’s nickname for the Dutch East Indies, “Gordel van Smaragd” or “Girdle of Emerald”. The connection? Perhaps a nod to the “string of pearls,” as architect Jo Coenen called the seven water villas surrounding the main building. These villas, glistening on the water’s edge, evoke images of a far-off archipelago. The Emerald Empire, completed in 1996, stands at the eastern tip of KNSM-eiland. It dominates the end of KNSM-laan, a grand avenue broadening into a square. Water embraces three sides of the Empire: the IJ to the north, the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal to the east, and the Ertshaven to the south. The Venetiëstraat, nestled between the main building and the villas, adds a touch of Venetian charm. This location, once the site of a bustling harbor and later a nomadic village, has undergone a dramatic transformation. The Emerald Empire rises from the remnants of a forgotten past, a testament to Amsterdam’s ever-evolving landscape. The main building, a cylindrical giant, demands attention. Its white plastered walls, save for the ground floor, exude a Mediterranean aura. The circular design grants nearly every apartment a water view. Imagine waking up to the sight of ships gliding across the IJ or the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal. Inside, 206 three-room apartments and 18 four-room apartments offer spacious living. The three-room apartments share a similar fan-shaped layout, a subtle consequence of the building’s curvature. The larger maisonettes, perched on the highest floors, boast staggered rooflines and bay windows. They contribute to the building’s asymmetrical charm. A raised, ring-shaped garden, essentially the roof of the parking garage, encircles the building. A broad canopy, a signature Coenen touch, marks the entrance to the inner courtyard, the Venetiëhof. This circular courtyard, a natural consequence of the building’s form, offers a tranquil retreat. Galleries lead to stairwells and five elevator shafts, their canopies adding a distinctive touch to the roofline. The apartments open onto semi-enclosed galleries, their mint-colored railings forming a continuous fence. The Venetiëhof itself is partly public, its center a private garden with a lawn, shrubs, and mature trees. The Emerald Empire is more than just an apartment building. It is a symbol of Amsterdam’s innovative spirit, a place where history and modernity converge.