A decade after opening its first property in Amsterdam, situated in the city’s emerging Zuidas business district, citizenM returns to plant a flag smack in the middle of town. The new property is situated a stone’s throw from the Amstel river, and thus aptly baptized citizenM Amstel, occupying a former bank office built by Dutch architect Christiaan Posthumus Meyjes in the late 1920s. Contrary to the majority of newly built citizenM hotels across the planet which see modular rooms and space, this is an existing building which required an entirely different design approach for Amsterdam-based architecture practice and longtime collaborator Concrete. Featuring only 88 rooms, it may be the hotel chain’s smallest outpost, but has all the perks the company has become known for among a growing number of discerning travellers.
Upon entering citizenM Amstel, guests come across a small check-in counter situated on an elevated podium at street level which shared with a variety of seating areas, all brimming with iconic Vitra design pieces and further embellished with carefully curated artworks. A few steps down canteenM can be found, a seamless extension of the social spaces, but one equipped with a fully stocked bar and pantry. The bar comes with the prerequisite stools, but the setting also oozes buzzing local culture as the artworks have been curated by Foam Editions, and some were even commissioned. Mind you, a series of eight windows serves as a canvas for Dutch artists Freudenthal/Verhagen and adorns the façade. Double doors at the rear end open up to a charming enclosed courtyard filled with outdoor furniture and lush greens.
You could say it’s a hidden oasis within the bustling inner city. Adjacent to the bar, two spacious societyM meeting rooms and a breakout area invite to get some work done. But let’s not forget about the rooms. Designed to meet all modern standards, and perhaps exceeding them here and there, the pads are equally stylish, and come with supersized comfy beds with a headboard on two sides, a powerful rain shower, and free WiFi. A handy mood pad allows you to arrange arrange the temperature, the blinds and other amenities. As said, citizenM Amstel has an ideal location – it’s just a short stroll away from the scenic Canal District, and the underground and tram station right outside allow easy access of all the city’s leading museums and landmark sites.
citizenM
Sarphatistraat 47 (Centrum)
1018EW Amsterdam
Telephone: +31 20 8117020
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
