Adaptive Travelers: Stairs to a Non-Existent Fourth Floor
We, Mimi Blogger Team, visited the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven.
Being the fashion-angels that we are; we went straight to the fashion-exhibition named ‘Adaptive Travelers‘ (more on that HERE) The exhibition, by Modebelofte 2016, was held at the top floor of the Dutch luxury department store “De Bijenkorf” (‘The Beehive’ in Dutch).
But first we had to adapt ourselves to the intricate entrance route. Instead of just taking the store elevator (or escalator for that matter) we had to walk 3 flights of stairs, which are normally only used by employees, to the actual exhibition. After we exited the exhibition, via a parcours set on the roof (fun!), we saw the mysterious staircase leading to nowhere!!!
We find such a staircase very intruiging, this is the first time we’ve seen such an unfinished build in the Netherlands (which is a mini country with many, very strict rules). In 1960s ‘De Bijenkorf’ store only needed 3 stories, but urban planning was made for 4 stories. From the outside the fabulous building looks much taller than it actually is: the fourth floor is merely a facade. But the plans remain in the form of the stairs leading to nowhere! (Thahanks!! D. Martijn Oostra for this story)
The façade of the Dutch Departmentstore ‘De Bijenkorf” is designed by Giò Ponti (in cooperation withTheo Boosten, Frans Gaast and Mario Negri 1965/1968). “He used little 3-dimensional tiles in different variants of green which were also applied for the Concattedrale in Taranto and for the San Carlo hospital chapel in Milan. It is said that Ponti got his inspiration for this facade, while flying over The Netherlands, and looking at the water-lined green landschape below.” (read more at mimoa.eu)
At the opening of the Bijenkorf all employees were given a ceramic tile designed by Ponti. Nowadays this is a highly collectable item.
(images via eindhoven-in-beeld.nl / debijenkorf.nl )
In the 1970-’80s there were camping shows on the roof.
! must have been fun as well!