Conceptual Sketch for an Architectural Proposal for
If I Can’t Dance, I Don’t Want To Be Part Of Your Revolution
Amsterdam

(Not realized)

(A.) Problem
One could argue that the space of If I Can’t Dance is in general used for both office work and social activities. Some parts of work are also social activities like meeting, eating, discussing, collective working, recreating and of course public events of any kind. The openness of the space with its promise of total flexibility could be read as an obstacle to practically allow diverse social activities to happen. Since there are no spatial or structural indications or barriers, anything seems to be possible but at the same time arbitrary, unnecessary or practically laborious. The current spatial indifference between office work and social activities may obscure the productive potentials of more clearly defined relations between the two, which could also be temporary.

(B.) Solution
To enforce the social potential of the space and to preserve its usefulness to work regularly, it could be helpful to spatially segregate these two use dimensions (with the aim to connect them more intensely and explicitly when reasonable or funny). We suggest to divide the space into a specific office work space along the windows facing Westerdok and a really open space in the back for the social activities and public events, including yet unforeseen ones. Both spaces need to be connected by a separation – or separated by a connection. A disruptive architectural element for this segregation could be anything from a taped line on the floor to a two stories office structure (which would certainly be more exciting).