Goud Souk

Design
The exterior is defined by a 35 meter long facade that explains the visitors in a glance what they can find here: all that glitters is gold! The entrance is clearly marked. Here, the "nugget of gold" has opened up to provide access to the "cave" where the real golden treasures are safely displayed.

Contrary to the exterior of the building, which is very visible and prominent, the design of the interior is very modest. Everything is black, even the reflective floors and ceiling. In combination with the lighting, the attention is directed to the shining of the displayed jewelry of the gold dealers! And in the end, that is what it's all about.

The building and its surroundings are designed in such a way with safety and "crash" protection as part of the design. The inverted pyramids aren't just functional – because of their triangular form they also enhance the design of the facade and match with the character of the Goud Souk. 
 
(Concept developed in collaboration with Leaders Against Routine.)

Execution
The golden facade of the Goud souk consists of relief panels with a triangular pattern. By repeating these panels throughout the whole facade with a varied orientation, a very diverse facade emerges, a real eye catcher. Thanks to the lighting between the panels, the golden facade shimmers day and night.

The power of the layout design of the interior of the Goud souk is the simplicity: the faceted form of the display cases provides a very large show case surface and excellent visibility. The displays of the jewelry are in fact extended into the hall. 

Phase
The Goud Souk is completed at the beginning of 2015. The client and future tenants are very positive and enthousiastic about the plan, especially about the design and the visual experience. Only one big hall, with just gold dealers, a very strong concept for both tenants and visitors of the Goud souk. And all this in a building that looks like a gold bar, with a secret cave inside, containing the loot of the forty thieves. 

PROJECT DATA

Program: 29 jeweler shops
Status: Completed February 2015
Size: 1430 m²
Location: Beverwijk (de Bazaar), The Netherlands
Client: De Bazaar
Architect: Liong Lie Architects
Design Team: Roeland de Jong, Martijn Huijts, Rajiv Sewtahal, Michael Schuurman, Jakub Pakos, Miodrag Stoianov, Laura Juan López
Brand Positioning: Leaders against routine, Barbara van Veen
Photography: Hannah Anthonysz