First pole for 'The Pole House'

Van Wijk won the competition launched by the Municipality of Amsterdam in late 2020 to design a landmark for the yet-to-be-developed Sluisbuurt on Amsterdam's Zeeburgereiland.

From as many as 25 entries, 'Het Palenhuis' emerged as the winner. With this 'ode to the pile', a 20-meter high house on piles, Van Wijk visualizes how Amsterdam is built on millions of piles. Without this foundation, the city would sink into the swampy peat.

The artwork will stand near the entrance to the Piet Hein tunnel. A striking object that will also act as a meeting place for the residents of this new sustainable neighborhood in Amsterdam.

From the very first news item about "The Pole House," in mid-2020, Vroom offered to contribute. In close contact with Daniel Peters of DAMAST Architects and Piet van Wijk, that contribution took shape.

'The Pole House' will stand on a concrete foundation slab, which rests on four prefabricated piles, each going 19.5 meters into the ground. Because of the loose soil conditions in the upper layer, it was decided to pre-drill 5 meters and drive the piles into it.

Cooperation Vroom and Shock Industry

Vroom Funderingstechnieken provides the piling, Vroom Betonbouw provides the assembly of the foundation slab on the piles. The foundation slab and the piles will be supplied by Schokindustrie. In the foundation slab will be 28 anchors for the attachment of the steel tubes, supplied by Tata Steel, which visualize the piles. On top comes the steel house. The "opening" of "The Pole House" is scheduled for late September 2021.