Smaragd
From the motorway that cuts through Almere, the Smaragd building in Almere immediately stands out in the Almere skyline because of its colour. In the centre, apart from the colours used, the cantilevered facades are also attention-grabbers. The orange on the southwest side stands out the most. For road users, de Smaragd is a beacon at the beginning of the tunnel that provides access to the city centre.
In the Stadshart, this is the only building in a truly striking colour scheme. It has sloping walls, which ensure optimal light penetration. The first two floors house a department store with eight residential floors above. These have zigzagging balconies all around, like polished facets. Towards the top, the shape changes and the size increases. The colour concept was developed in collaboration with Swiss artist Adrian Schiess. Due to the reflection of light on the glass walls, the street appears wider. The total looks like a multicoloured gemstone.
