The other face of Rivierenbuurts

Anyone who thinks of Plan South and particularly of the Rivierenviertel will first envision the large number of closed residential blocks.
Before our mind's eye, these magnificent, slightly gloomy facades with their stair portals and their towers of bay windows along the wide boulevards and the narrower side streets emerge, which actually meander through the quarter - sometimes with the tram tracks - like rivers. But this South also has another face than these derivatives from the Amsterdam School, of which the skyscraper at Victorieplein is of course the most striking example. There is also the quite differently appearing gray Lego city behind the 'fortress walls' along Kennedylaan. Post-war tall buildings, including - I will mention just a few - the Okura Hotel and the Rembrandt Tower, give our quarter a harmonious and varied appearance.
By the way, the other face has existed for a long time. The synagogue in Lekstraat and the famous atelier apartments in Zomerdijkstraat herald the modern block design of the 1940s/1950s - however, they were actually built long before the war. In short, enough reason for Jos and the undersigned to once again take a walk through our old village, capture a photo or two, and reflect over a Beerenburg at the pub Diva's, now our regular base for Southern Walking Path activities.
This walk took place on Thursday, February 17, 2005, on a somewhat gray afternoon between winter and spring (by the way, it would turn into real winter again in the first week of March...) with exactly the light that suited the 'other' face of the Rivierenviertel. Will you come with us?

Paul Gellings and Jos Wiersema
You can find a detailed description at:
www.zuidelijkewandelweg.nl