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Architects stay away from royal Eye opening in row over plans

The architects who designed Amsterdam’s Eye film institute are boycotting the opening ceremony following a row over changes to their designs.

Delugan Meissl Associated Architects claimed that the interior of the iconic building on the shores of the IJ had been altered without their approval.

The management of the Eye insisted there was no conflict with the Austrian firm and said the changes were necessary to comply with fire safety regulations.

Queen Beatrix is officially opening the building on Thursday evening.

In a statement, the architects declined to give specific details of how the final plans upset them, but the dispute is believed to centre on a layout of diagonal walls connecting the main hall with the foyer.

In the finished building, the foyer is separated from the hall by a right-angled wall and a sliding door. The management said this was changed for practical and acoustic reasons, and to meet safety requirements.

A spokeswoman for Eye said the architects had seen the finished plans before building work started and denied that there had been a fall-out with the management.

‘We don’t know exactly what this is about, but we think their main objection is the partition between the hall and the foyer.

‘This was necessary because of fire safety regulations. There is no way around regulations in the Dutch construction sector.’

Source: NRC: Architecten boycotten opening filminstituut EYE

Photo by Johan Wieland

See also: Delugan Meissl Associated Architects