Nhow Amsterdam RAI Hotel

OMA might have had twisted ideas in the past but its latest addition to the Amsterdam skyline by the year 2018 is officially what twisted building design is all about. A stunning structure located near the Zuidas business district, the25 storey hotel with its 650 rooms is going to be the biggest hotel in Netherlands.

Amsterdam RAI is an international exhibition and convention centre near the Zuidas business district and according to Wikipedia, is visited by up to 2 million people every year. Apart from that, it holds 50 international conferences and 70 trade shows on an annual average.

photography by © Walter Herfst

With a place of its popularity and importance in a city, a new urban look and a slight tweek in the site planning was definitely required. That is why the RAI decided to add a hotel that is iconic in design at the junction of the Europa boulevard, the highway A10 and the RAI convention center. The addition of a hotel by OMA into the programme is not only a value addition in terms of a facility for hosting international events but also acts as a brand new look for the RAI an Amsterdam. OMA as a brand is a value addition to the cause in fact.

Courtesy of OMA

Taking inspiration from the popular advertising pillar ‘the Signaal’ the hotel looks like a series of fragmented glass prisms twisted along its central axis. Its concept ‘On Air’ links it to the functioning of the RAI. Exuding youth, life and energy, the hotel promises its guests an experience that is not limited to the convention hours. With a skybar and a restaurant at the top level, the hotel opens itself up to the city and invites residents to come capture panoramic views of their city from the best location in the hotel. If for nothing else, I think for the skyline of Amsterdam, the Nhow Amsterdam RAI is definitely a place to visit for out-of-town residents