Benthem Crouwel Architekten

Benthem Crouwel Architekten is a Dutch architectural firm founded in 1979 by Jan Benthem and Mels Crouwel. Together with partners Joost Vos and Marten Wassmann, they direct offices in Amsterdam and Düsseldorf.

In the first years mostly home renovations were done and the office participated in several contests. The first construction project was a house in Scheveningen in 1982. A key project in the early period was the home of Jan Benthem himself, De Fantasie in Almere (1982-1984). The house shows the pragmatic approach combined with the spatial and technical innovation that is typical for the office. At that time they also got a series of assignments for customs emplacements on the border of The Netherlands with Belgium and Germany.

After a couple of small assignments at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, such as a bicycle parking, Benthem Crouwel became the master architect Schiphol in 1986, in cooperation with NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants). Over the years many additions were made to the airport, such as Terminal West (1993), Schiphol Plaza (1995), control tower (2003), departures (2004), World Trade Center (1996 and 2003) and Lounges 1, 2 and 3 (2002 and 2010). Since 1989 Benthem Crouwel is the supervisory architect of the international exhibition and conference centre of The Netherlands, Amsterdam RAI. The most recent addition to the complex is RAI Elicium (2009).

Benthem Crouwel has designed museums, public buildings and pop venues. Some examples are the Anne Frank House (1999)and the FOAM photo museum (2002) in Amsterdam, De Pont museum for contemporary art, Tilburg (1993), restoration and expansion of Las Palmas, Rotterdam (2008), the Malietower, The Hague (1996), pop venues Metropool, Hengelo (2009), P60, Amstelveen (2001), 013, Tilburg (1998). and Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam (2012). Current projects are among others the Kulturbau Koblenz and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

The office is also involved in infrastructural projects. Other than bridges, such as Muiderbrug, A1 Amsterdam – Rijnkanaal (2010) and the High Speed Train longest bridge at Hollandsch Diep (2006), current projects are the North/South Line (Amsterdam Metro) and the renewal of all major Dutch transportation hubs; Amsterdam Central station, Utrecht Central station, Rotterdam Central station and The Hague Central station.

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