If you aren’t moved with love or hate by The Hotel Inntel in Zaandam The Netherlands by Wilfried van Winden of WAM Architecten I suggest you check your pulse.
The town center of Zaandam is being revamped by Sjoerd Soeters to be brought back to its rich heritage — historical street layouts are being renewed and the dull and impersonal town center is being revitalized with a new hotel — one that incorporates the historical stylistic features of Zaanse Schans village.
The hotel, which opened back in March, is a striking building to say the least. The design has generated quite a bit of attention from international media. Comprising 160 rooms, a pool, and wellness center, the 12-story hotel has already had hundreds of guests. Designer Wilfried van Winden envisioned a place in which guests could feel at home, even when away from home. Therefore, the hotel has been designed to look like stacked houses, resembling a range of residences from a notary’s manse to a worker’s cottage. In fact there are about 70 little houses in four shades of Zaanse Schans green. Particularly eye-catching is the “The Blue House,” inspired by the eponymous artwork that Claude Monet painted in Zaandam in 1871.
What do you think of this hotel — would you stay there?
Photos by Roel Backaert.

29 Comments
Dora on 06.03.2010 at 16:41 PM
yep, I would :D
dh on 06.03.2010 at 20:06 PM
Absolutely atrocious. An eyesore. Cool that the architect convinced people to buy and then build his idea, but really, this will age quite poorly.
If I lived within view of it I would have to close my blinds permanently and paint a more picturesque view.
Horrid. Have a said that yet?
InsideAction on 06.03.2010 at 16:44 PM
This is perfect work. I love it !
Martin Bregman on 06.03.2010 at 17:49 PM
Gorgeous design. Can’t say I’ve seen it before.
Emily Fitzhugh on 06.03.2010 at 18:57 PM
sorry to be the first party pooper but icky boo. I mean I would totally stay there but I think the design is off. big time. :)
D_Weitzenhoffer on 06.03.2010 at 19:03 PM
Love it!!! Makes me think of a dollhouse:)
Bill on 06.03.2010 at 19:19 PM
Looks like something that was inspired by Lego !
Karin on 06.03.2010 at 23:18 PM
I love it! So much better than cold looking hotel structures.
Marcus on 06.04.2010 at 03:30 AM
LOVE IT!!!! Looks monumental! it’s got character and doesn’t neglect its surroundings
Amy on 06.04.2010 at 09:40 AM
I WOULD!!!! I love love love it!
John Moss on 06.04.2010 at 14:10 PM
Horrible. Absolutely horrible. It’s an eyesore now, and as the building gets older the colors will fade and it will look even worse. I’d be very upset if I lived across the street.
heath quinn on 03.14.2012 at 09:06 AM
I think it will look better when it fades. The blue wing will merge softly with blue & grey skies, and the softened textures will soften people’s reactions. But I don’t like it, either.
henkerik on 06.04.2010 at 14:37 PM
I live some 30 miles from zaandam and indeed it’s one hideous building, but it fits zaandam perfectly… not a city i recommend visiting when you’re in Holland.
Jesse Pearson on 06.05.2010 at 02:17 AM
For some reason — perhaps it’s the door on the facade — this reminds me of the Winchester Mystery House.
mickey on 06.05.2010 at 04:00 AM
Love it.
I’d stay there.
trish on 06.05.2010 at 14:36 PM
love the building hate the colour choice!!
bg on 06.07.2010 at 18:06 PM
i just threw up in my mouth a little.
gizegen on 06.07.2010 at 18:19 PM
brave but lacks taste in color and design. still always nice to see daring architectural designs:)
Global Shoppe on 06.09.2010 at 01:18 AM
I love it!! yes i would like to stay there!!
M3i on 06.11.2010 at 12:33 PM
This looks like a fantasy Disney home.
modernsalt on 06.14.2010 at 17:50 PM
If there was a hotel instead of a castle in Alice in Wonderland, I think this would have been the perfect setting.
I linked your article here: http://modernsalt.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/escape-mondays-alice-in-wonderland-inspired/
Horeca Groningen on 06.23.2010 at 14:39 PM
It may sound a bit strange, but these pictures got me memories back from my crappy Tetris play.. but as mentioned in the post below, good idea for Lego :P
Chiel on 08.18.2010 at 13:46 PM
People commenting about the colours: the colours are original of the wooden houses found in this area, the “Zaanstreek”. The new city hall, built opposite the Inntel is in the same green colours.
Want to stay here? Visit http://www.stylehotelsweb.com/hotel/netherlands/north-holland/zaandam/inntel-hotels-amsterdam-zaandam Inside it’s pretty hip too!
dubai hotels on 09.18.2010 at 09:37 AM
sorry to be the first party pooper but icky boo. I mean I would totally stay there but I think the design is off. big time.
memo on 11.12.2010 at 22:43 PM
Reminds me of the Mario Bros…… maybe it’s the colors…
James K on 02.22.2012 at 06:18 AM
Would love to *gulps*
heath quinn on 03.14.2012 at 09:03 AM
Overwhelming sense of claustrophobia – that’s what I feel when I look at it. Like a series of interconnected corridors that have no exits to the outside world. The color and gingerbread, or the angles and layers, I could deal with as sets on their own. But color, gingerbread, angles and layers as a single combined set tell me: “don’t trust this architect’s intuition, regarding people or design.”
Mel Massey on 03.14.2012 at 15:42 PM
Looks like a dolls house. Alternative. Always up for something quirky…Travellodge be damned.
LOCZIdesign on 05.23.2012 at 14:11 PM
This is absolutely amazingly awkward, but would definitely flirt with the idea of booking a night there, (if ever in the area)!
…a fun share!
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