Who?
Altera Vastgoed is a Dutch real estate investment fund focused on residential and retail properties in the Netherlands. It prioritizes sustainable, long-term investments, offering institutional investors stable returns through a diverse portfolio of high-quality, strategically located assets. Altera was founded in 2000 through the merger of two direct real estate portfolios of the Hoogovens pension fund and the KLM pension funds.
Altera approached STRAAT Agency to bring the character, history and culture of the NDSM terrain to three residential tower blocks on the NDSM site which are part of their investment portfolio.
Artists
The curatorial team at STRAAT was challenged to select three international quality street artists to capture the nature, industrial past and creative future of NDSM.
Remi Rough is a British street and contemporary artist known for his abstract geometric works that blend bold lines and vibrant colors. Emerging from the London graffiti scene in the 1980s, he now exhibits globally, creating murals and paintings that redefine urban landscapes.
Vesod Brero, better known as Vesod, is an Italian contemporary artist celebrated for his unique fusion of surrealism, futurism, and classical art. Influenced by his father's surrealist work, Vesod creates dynamic murals and paintings that depict fragmented figures and abstract forms, blending movement, light, and perspective into captivating urban art.
Dutch artist Collin Van der Sluijs has gained international acclaim for his distinctive, emotive murals and gallery pieces, exhibiting in cities worldwide. His art combines fine details with vibrant colors, often depicting animals, plants, and abstract forms, bridging street art and contemporary painting.
What?
The NDSM (Nederlandsche Dok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij) was a major Amsterdam shipyard from the 1920s to the 1980s. After its closure, the area transformed into a vibrant cultural hub, hosting artists, studios, and musical events.
The mix of industrial history, urban culture and its riverside location has made the area a much-desired place to live. In 2024, the Nautisch NDSM, a new residential building on the iconic NDSM wharf along the northern shores of the IJ in Amsterdam, was completed. Real estate investor Altera has taken 157 mid-market rental apartments, 24 private sector rental apartments, 951 m² of commercial space, and 90 parking spaces into operation.
Altera came to STRAAT Agency to find a way of connecting the local street art culture and industrial heritage to these new homes. They did this by challenging each of the selected artists to respond to themes of the wildlife of NDSM, the industrial past, and the creative future.
Collin Van der Sluijs approached the theme of the local wildlife with his piece Aquarel XL 2 by utilizing a minimal color palette and highly diluted paint, similar to techniques commonly applied in the studio or outdoors. The concept centered around a water theme and its inhabitants, incorporating species native to Dutch waters, such as the Fuut (Great Crested Grebe) and the Heron. In the composition, the Fuut faces right, symbolizing a forward-looking perspective, while the Heron, positioned facing left towards "het IJ," appears in a hunting stance, moving slowly through the water. The plants and foliage depicted in the artwork represent both submerged and surface-level water plants, contributing to the aquatic ambiance.
In his work Spheres, Vesod painted NDSM from multiple angles presenting its rich industrial past. Vesod uses his ability to capture intricate details to give the viewer a sense of space and place. While the buildings and ships may be familiar, his skillfully painted bubbles can be considered slightly more surreal. The soapy spheres represent how we live in our own bubble, and in this image the bubbles are floating down the river IJ looking for a suitable place to settle.
In stark contrast, Remi Roughs piece situated in werfblok is less a mural but more so an experience. Challenged to capture and celebrate the creative future of the area, Remi utilizes his knowledge of traditional graffiti and abstraction to create a 360 experience. To fully experience this artwork, the viewer must literally spiral around it to see it, hence its title Spirals. It has become the environment as opposed to adding to it.
Client Feedback
“The collaboration with STRAAT Museum has been an incredibly positive experience. We felt fully engaged in the process of creating the artworks by the three talented artists from start to finish. This partnership has not only been seamless but has also added significant value to our residential complex, Nautisch NDSM, by bringing a unique cultural vibrancy to our community.” / Marie van der Lugt, Asset Manager Residential, Altera
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Our partners
Remi Rough: https://shop.remirough.com/
Vesod: http://www.vesod.com/
Collin van der Sluijs: https://www.instagram.com/collinvandersluijs
Altera: https://www.alteravastgoed.nl/
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