You can find all sorts of crazy things on Marktplaats — the Dutch equivalent of eBay – even the materials to build an entire coffee shop! For Noorderparkbar, a cafe in the middle of an Amsterdam park, Dutch architecture firms Bureau SLA and Overtreders have done exactly that, combining  fragments of former temporary hospital units, leftover wood, and old furniture and dining utensils, all found online, to build this cozy, eco-friendly hot spot. Read more!

From the outside, Noorderparkbar looks a bit like a giant barn, with wooden shingles and a high roof. However, the heavy doors swing open to reveal a cute, sun-lit cafe, cobbled together from 42 windows and skylights that originally came from three different hospital units. The first floor houses a bar, dining room, and restrooms, while the second floor is a lighted terrace. (Perfect for a romantic evening in the park.) The architects purchased all their materials from more 100 online merchants, who were then interviewed and consulted for the project, truly demonstrating a community-built pavilion.

Photos: courtesy of Overtreders W

by Rebecca Fleischer

posted in Uncategorized

tagged amsterdam, Bureau SLA, Cafes, coffee shops, eBay, Marktplaats, Overtreders, restaurants

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