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An Artist’s Retreat Built in a Rooftop Tower

Early 2015 sees the launch of department store de Bijenkorf’s artist in residence project which invites artists, writers, musicians, architects, and designers, to stay in their one-of-a-kind, rooftop retreat. Room On The Roof sits atop the de Bijenkorf store in Amsterdam within a small tower right in the heart of the city. The design was imagined by i29 interior architects to give each participant an unique experience. Artist Maarten Baas is the first lucky resident.

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i29 looked at scale and perception, like in Alice in Wonderland’s universe, and created two worlds within one space. On one side, there’s a vertical installation made of wood, that includes a pantry, storage, desk, and daybed. Each function is stacked almost making it look like the inside of a cabinet. Ladders within the space and a spiral staircase just outside, let the tenant climb to each level.

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Each levels gives you a different perspective of the outside world.

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de Bijenkorf partnered with the Rijksmuseum for the first two years of the project and they’ll be inviting national and international artists to work on their own projects within the “room” while staying there. The work created while staying there will be shared with the public.

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Room On The Roof is outfitted with a telescope for panoramic city views, a cozy bed, and a menu for meals.

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The other side of the space is all-white with a telescope, armchair, and lamps, contrasting the wooden structure.

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Photos by Ewout Huibers.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.