As the housing crisis in Amsterdam increases, people are looking for increasingly ingenious ways to make a home.
The latest bizarre concept turns an old crane into a three-story apartment. But it doesn’t come cheap. For those eager to try out the new mode of accommodation, you’ll need to shell out about $860 USD per night according to TripAdvisor.
The crane, located at KNSM-Island in Amsterdam is luxuriously fitted out as a two bedroom apartment with stunning views over the city’s port. The Yays Crane Apartment was designed by Edward van Vliet.
The unusual accommodation used to be used for unloading ships in the port, the Figee crane 2368 is now the perfect base for a romantic weekend away. You’ll be impressed by the views from every level over the IJ river.
The apartment is part of a concept that invites tourists to stay in unusual accommodation options that try to give a taste of what life would be like if you really lived in the city you are staying.
The Yay’s website describes their mission saying, “Yays is a new travel and stay concept that reroutes urban tourism. Yays offers concierged boutique apartments in historical buildings, restored with respect for the neighbourhood and hosted by local personnel. Our buildings are situated in lively areas you won’t find on the tourist maps, where our guests can truly experience what it’s like to live like a resident.”
The crane was decommissioned once shipping containers became the preferred way to transport freight. This crane was not strong enough to load the heavily loaded containers and so was left standing but wasn’t used.
The area around the crane is now a lively urban neighborhood full of bars and cafes with just hints of its gritty industrial past. CEO Yays Concierged Boutique Apartments, Peter Heule, describes their vision for the crane: "We're pleased to have the honour to manage the former Figee crane 2868 and to offer it 'a new life,” he says. "The crane is back in its home port after a thorough restoration and redecoration by the well-known designer Edward van Vliet. This is the way how we would like to contribute to the development of the city of Amsterdam."
Interestingly, it isn’t just the cranes of the former industrial port that are now providing accommodation. The shipping containers that once proved too heavy for the ancient lifting device are now also being transformed into unusual sleeping quarters.
TempoHousing provides affordable housing for students and young workers in the Dutch capital created from shipping containers. The modular form of the containers make them easy to stack. Their rugged exterior means even containers that have spent many years in service are still useable as housing.
Examples of shipping container architecture can be seen all over the world. But the Netherlands have really stepped up the game with its approach to using the containers as accommodation. The housing crisis in Amsterdam is extreme, people looking for accommodation end up spending huge amounts of their salary for small rooms with little luxuries. The shipping container idea provides much needed affordable accommodation for the city's poorest residents.
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