Besides being a contributor for April and May I’m also a volunteer for Love Not Waste (LNW). At Love Not Waste, we are happy activists, spreading the word on how (plastic) waste can turn into brand new products. We want to show you, surprise you and make you smile. Recently we held our first LNW team meeting in sustainable Hotel Jakarta in Amsterdam.

At this perfect location on the Java island facing central station Amsterdam, you can’t miss this amazing hotel that has been designed by SeARCH architects. With SeARCH’s design for hotel Jakarta, WestCord Hotels has won the tender of the city of Amsterdam for the development of a hotel at the very edge of Java eiland. Given the prominent location, the city council wanted a unique hotel concept, not only in its architecture, but also in its public programming and sustainability.

Hotel Jakarta symbolizes Amsterdam’s historic maritime connection with Asia and feels like a second living room to both the curious globe-trotter and the neighbours and other inhabitants of the city of Amsterdam. It is a spectacular building with a sustainable, industrial character, lots of transparent glass facades and a unique 30 meter high wooden main support structure. The beams, columns and ceilings are made of natural wood. The materials chosen are durable and have the FSC or PEFC quality mark. Almost all the used elements that have a short life span or are recyclable are reused by disassembly.

We were given a guided tour through the hotel and we learned all about their solar energy and water collection circuit, their modular room construction and sustainable material selection. The design and maintenance of the subtropical garden is a result of a collaboration with the Hortus Botanicus and the Royal Tropical Institute is assisting then with with the cultural planning. They have also lend historical items from their collection to be exhibited at Hotel Jakarta.

The entire hotel feels so calm and serene. And that’s also because there are only a few colors used through the entire hotel; mainly wood and green. Things like the red fire hoses are very cleverly ‘hidden’ in the walls and I just loved the staircase. It has the exact shape as the outside of the hotel. A bit of fun by the architect.

If you are ever nearby the Java island in Amsterdam. Just take a tram and get a feel of tranquility in this hotel. You can bring your laptop because it’s also a great place to work from. They also have a beautiful bakery, restaurant and sky bar with lots of Indonesian as well as fusion dishes.

- Barbara -

Sustainable Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam