Scheepvaarthuis Detail

by csnyder on May 13, 2004

Location: Amsterdam

When in Amsterdam, walk east along Prins Hendrikkaade and marvel at the architectural storybook that is Het Scheepvaarthuis (more photos here (not mine)).

Designed by Van Gendt A.Lzn and J.M. van der Mey in the early 20th Century, it served as headquarters for a collection of Dutch shipping companies. It is now the home of the Amsterdam transit company GVB.

The longer you look, the more you will see: the details have details, and there are messages encoded in all of the deco flourishes.

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Messages:

jetam?!

. - May 13, 2004

i used to work in this building. they have a type of old-fashioned open elevators called 'pater noster'. they move up and down perpetually and the idea is you step into them and off again when you've reached the floor of your choice.

they're called 'pater noster' because someone thought the whole business of stepping on and off could use a bit of a prayer.

filmlynx - Sep 23, 2004