Podium Mozaïek

transformation of a church into a multifunctional building

 

The former Pnielkerk, popularly known as “the tea light,” in Amsterdam is a very distinctive building designed by architect Boeyinga. In 2000, Oᶦᶦᶦ was commissioned by the Kristal Foundation to design accommodation for the multicultural stage Mozaïek in this building.

​The austerity and serene character of the building necessitated a cautious approach. The desire to leave the original building as intact as possible, while still meeting the requirements of a modern theater in optimal form, demanded great inventiveness on the part of the designers.

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​In addition to the auditorium and stage, the program also includes various studios, dressing rooms, and a restaurant/foyer. By creating a floor in the church space at the level of the original balconies, a theater auditorium of good proportions is created that has a wide range of uses. The space created beneath the auditorium is intended for the foyer and a number of rehearsal studios. The rest of the program is housed in the adjacent side rooms.

 

In the interior, the original structures have been left visible as much as possible, and the characteristic glass bricks in the façade have also been left transparent. An important aspect of the design is that the glass bricks, which radiate the interior light, have been left untouched and, where necessary, supplemented with similar elements, so that the building still deserves its nickname ‘tealight’.​