Generator continues European expansion with Amsterdam site acquisition
Generator Amsterdam will be located in the University of Amsterdam’s former health sciences and zoological department, and will accommodate up to 556 guests in 168 twin and quadruple rooms, with part or garden views and en-suite bathrooms.
An accompanying luxury apartment overlooking Oosterpark will be fitted for six people, including self-catering facilities. The building is an imposing brick structure completed in 1917 and features elegant, grand spaces and high ceilings throughout. Two new floors complete with glass facades will be added, marrying modern architecture with the heritage of the property.
Local architects IDEA, developer COD and Generator’s Creative Director and DesignAgency partner, Anwar Mekhayech, are restoring the heritage building and transforming the interiors to create an original experience. The social areas are flexible and spacious and cater to the needs of both individual travellers and groups, with the largest proportion of public areas of any existing Generator. The ground floor will include a lobby with glass-fronted elevators and a raised café, with a terrace and outdoor seating overlooking the park.
An impressive chill out lounge and bar will be set in the former formal lecture hall, while the old library will become an intimate relaxation area doubling as a private meeting room. The basement will be fitted with a spacious dining space and a secret bar in the original boiler room. Like the café and ground floor bar, the intimate speakeasy will be open to both Generator guests and locals.
Anwar Mekhayech, Creative Director, said: “The Netherlands is such a deeply experiential place – steeped in history and cultural traditions as well as a strong contemporary design culture. The Dutch emphasis on practical whimsy, the beauty in natural flaws, connections to landscape, cycling and folk art provided fantastic inspiration for Generator style’s mix of high and low, old and new, and local notes. Each area will be a fun and welcoming with characteristic Generator style, woven with inspirations from tulip fields, monochromatic Delft patterns, abstracted Dutch landscapes and canal houses.”
The location of Generator Amsterdam offers guests access to the beautiful Oosterpark – one of the largest parks in the city, also currently undergoing a renovation – while being just a 15 minute bike, tram or metro rail ride away from the touristic Dam Square, Museum district or Amsterdam Centraal train station. An increasingly lively scene, with bars, restaurants and shops for a young, diverse demographic, awaits just across the park, along with the Dappermarkt, one of the oldest and busiest daily markets in the city.
Carl Michel, Executive Chairman at Generator which is backed by Patron Capital, said: “Amsterdam is one of the top four youth destinations in Northern Europe – with London, Paris and Berlin, Generator will now have a clean sweep of the major cities. The city is known for its tolerance and diversity, with a vibrant nightlife, but it also boasts huge cultural draws like the new Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank house. Schiphol airport is one of the leading international gateway hubs, connecting the city to all continents and providing young travellers with an excellent base for a European trip. Generator is delighted to add this key destination to our growing network.”
Josh Wyatt, Investment Director at Patron Capital responsible for the Generator brand, said: “The new Generator Amsterdam continues the strategy of buying and repositioning beautiful buildings in world class locations to create the world’s first truly global design led hostel business. The essence, character and soul of the building will complement the existing Generator properties and add a new chapter in our expanding travel story. Generator’s growth ambitions continue unabated with much more to come in 2015 and beyond.”
Generator Amsterdam is set to be the brand’s third property to open in 2015 following Paris and Rome.
