The Tankers

The Yellow and Rose tankers transform two former 1980s BP petrol stations in Amsterdam North into cultural and community pavilions. Originally intended for demolition due to major infrastructure changes, these stations were preserved and reimagined as vibrant pavilions — showcasing the potential of adaptive reuse in urban regeneration.

The Yellow and Rose tankers transform two former 1980s BP petrol stations in Amsterdam North into cultural and community pavilions. Originally intended for demolition due to major infrastructure changes, these stations were preserved and reimagined as vibrant pavilions — showcasing the potential of adaptive reuse in urban regeneration.

The Yellow and Rose tankers transform two former 1980s BP petrol stations in Amsterdam North into cultural and community pavilions. Originally intended for demolition due to major infrastructure changes, these stations were preserved and reimagined as vibrant pavilions — showcasing the potential of adaptive reuse in urban regeneration.

Client

Amsterdam-Noord District & community center

Amsterdam-Noord District & community center

Project type

District transformation

District transformation

Design team

Sophie Valla, Alena Vitáková, Hanne Fischer

Location

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Status

Delivered 2013

A visual landmark

A visual landmark

At night, the illuminated “LED Clouds” turn into a glowing roof visible from the motorway, marking the entrance to Noorderpark in Amsterdam North. Sixty backlit fabric panels installed beneath the roof slabs create an artificial sky — a dynamic lighting installation with twenty animation loops, transforming the space into a continuously evolving scene.


In our design, the roof becomes the defining feature. The custom light system reinforces each building’s unique identity. Strong yellow and pink colors accent the façades of the small buildings, emphasizing their playful, public nature and identifying them as pavilions.

At night, the illuminated “LED Clouds” turn into a glowing roof visible from the motorway, marking the entrance to Noorderpark in Amsterdam North. Sixty backlit fabric panels installed beneath the roof slabs create an artificial sky — a dynamic lighting installation with twenty animation loops, transforming the space into a continuously evolving scene.
In our design, the roof becomes the defining feature. The custom light system reinforces each building’s unique identity. Strong yellow and pink colors accent the façades of the small buildings, emphasizing their playful, public nature and identifying them as pavilions.

At night, the illuminated “LED Clouds” turn into a glowing roof visible from the motorway, marking the entrance to Noorderpark in Amsterdam North. Sixty backlit fabric panels installed beneath the roof slabs create an artificial sky — a dynamic lighting installation with twenty animation loops, transforming the space into a continuously evolving scene.


In our design, the roof becomes the defining feature. The custom light system reinforces each building’s unique identity. Strong yellow and pink colors accent the façades of the small buildings, emphasizing their playful, public nature and identifying them as pavilions.

Urban Carpet and Golden Shutters

The new pavilions have an open, welcoming character and are easily accessible to the public.

The surrounding public space functions as a generous terrace or event platform — a new kind of urban carpet beneath these outdoor roofs.The public areas around the buildings function as terraces or flexible spaces for events.We also developed a custom system of sliding shutters. These “golden shutters” create a pattern made from punched holes, glowing from the inside at night.

Regeneration & Transformation

With the arrival of Amsterdam’s new North–South Metro Line, the highway in Amsterdam-Noord was lowered by seven meters. As a result, the two former BP stations now sit elevated beside the new road. The municipality decided to redevelop the surrounding green areas into one large park — Noorderpark — and to connect its parts via three new bridges.


Commissioned by the Amsterdam-Noord district, our architectural firm developed a vision for the reuse of the old BP gas stations on both sides of the highway. The brief was to transform them into creative spaces integrated within the new landscape of the park.


This approach not only saves resources but also gives the park a new social and cultural impulse — proving that thoughtful transformation can breathe new life into neglected urban infrastructure.

With the arrival of Amsterdam’s new North–South Metro Line, the highway in Amsterdam-Noord was lowered by seven meters. As a result, the two former BP stations now sit elevated beside the new road. The municipality decided to redevelop the surrounding green areas into one large park — Noorderpark — and to connect its parts via three new bridges.


Commissioned by the Amsterdam-Noord district, our architectural firm developed a vision for the reuse of the old BP gas stations on both sides of the highway. The brief was to transform them into creative spaces integrated within the new landscape of the park.


This approach not only saves resources but also gives the park a new social and cultural impulse — proving that thoughtful transformation can breathe new life into neglected urban infrastructure.

Weather Report — A LED Installation

The “LED Clouds” installation is a permanent feature, creating a changing atmosphere beneath the roof.

Sixty textile panels made of advertising fabrics were cut to various sizes to fit the dimensions of the gas station roof structures. Each panel, comprising the 10-by-40-meter artificial sky, forms an LED-like screen that can be programmed independently. The light animations create fluctuating skies that lead us through bright and stormy days, from sunrise to sunset.

Gallery

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