Erotic Centre
De Wallen, Amsterdam’s world-famous Red-Light District, attracts around 200,000 people visiting prostitutes every year, with many more walking past the windows as a tourist. This beautiful neighbourhood, historically known for its cozy and pleasant atmosphere, also has a dark side. Nowadays, the neighbourhood resembles a theme park for tourists, shunned by Amsterdam locals, where drug-related disturbances are a daily occurrence. The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, has ordered PMB Amsterdam (the project management bureau of the municipality of Amsterdam) to investigate the possibility of creating an Erotic Centre at a different location within the city. Gianni Cito, together with Jurgen ten Hoeve, fulfilled this task with an exploratory conceptual design.
Programme
Erotic Centre
Surface
5.000 m²
Architect
Gianni Cito, Jurgen ten Hoeve
Team
PMB, Openbare Orde en Veiligheid [Public Order and Safety], SITE
Year
2020
Status
Study
Location
Amsterdam
Client
PMB, municipality of Amsterdam
Photographer
Thijs Wolzak
More than prostitution
Cito: “During our research into an Erotic Centre, we looked at ways to relieve the pressure on De Wallen. It is about more than simply offering prostitution at a different location. Visitors come for a broader experience. A boutique, a drink or a bite to eat, or a cinema - all contribute to an atmosphere in which people feel comfortable, even if they don’t visit a prostitute.”
Wandering
Wandering around, soaking up the atmosphere, and just seeing what crosses your path, just like in a neighbourhood. That is a key idea behind the conceptual design for the Erotic Centre. At the base of the building, there are circular clusters of entertainment, where visitors can choose their own route. From the lower level, you walk along a ramp around a tower, where sex workers present themselves, interspersed with spaces for offices, a doctor’s office, or mental health services.
Safe
Inside the towers there are living rooms for the sex workers and other staff. These living rooms can be reached via a private entrance and are directly connected to the prostitutes’ workspaces. With nearby private spaces and colleagues close by, they have a high-quality and protected workplace here.
View over the city
The city of Amsterdam lends character to the Erotic Centre. Not only from the new location, which is yet to be explored further, but also from the ramps around the towers. The view over the city enhances the atmosphere and contributes to a pleasant experience of a visit to the Erotic Centre.