Amvest donates furniture to the Municipality of Amsterdam
Amfi — a place to connect
Amfi is an innovative outdoor installation developed for Amvest and donated to the City of Amsterdam in celebration of two milestones: the city’s 750th anniversary and Amvest’s 25th anniversary.
As design and manufacturing partner, Grijsen collaborated closely with Strootman Landscape Architects to bring this unique concept to life.
- Client
- Amvest
- Landscape architect
- Strootman Landschapsarchitecten
- Location
- Amsterdam
Concept & purpose
The idea behind Amfi is to transform part of the public space into a vibrant focal point — a place to sit, play, meet, exercise, or simply relax.
Inspired by the classical amphitheatre, Amfi symbolizes togetherness and shared experience.
Amfi is more than just street furniture. It is a flexible, modular system that adapts to its surroundings and to the needs of its users.
Designer explains
Perry Maas from Strootman Landscape Architects discusses the design of the landscaping elements in this video. (in Dutch)
Design & materials
- Foundation of wooden poles
Amfi rests on wooden poles, a direct reference to the historical foundation of Amsterdam — a city built on thousands of timber piles. This element, usually hidden underground, is now brought to the surface as part of the design. - Durable robinia wood
The main structure is made of sustainably sourced robinia wood from Dutch forests. Known for its strength and longevity, this material naturally ages into a soft silver-grey tone over time. - Modular composition
Amfi consists of a ‘family’ of components — seating elements, steps, play modules and connecting beams.
Thanks to its modular design, Amfi can be assembled in many ways: from intimate seating arrangements to open, theatre-like compositions. - Steel band as visual connector
A circular steel band ties the wooden poles together, defining Amfi’s distinctive silhouette. Its colour can be customized per location, allowing the object to blend with its surroundings while maintaining its recognizable identity.
Dynamic & interactive use
Amfi is designed to be lived in — not a static object, but a flexible platform that adapts to its users and activities.
Through Amvest’s community concept LIVVIN, local residents are encouraged to activate the space: temporary add-ons like lighting, a projection screen, sports nets or plants can be attached to transform Amfi for different occasions.
To support this, a special Amfi cart was developed for transporting and storing these modular add-ons — enabling Amfi to evolve from a playground by day to an open-air cinema at night.
Location & meaning
- First location: Cruquius, Amsterdam
The first Amfi has been installed in Cruquius, an area where Amvest is both developer and resident, with its head office nearby.
This location underlines the symbolic nature of the project: a gift from Amvest to the city, placed on ground it helped transform. - Symbolism of connection
The wooden piles of Amfi represent the city’s foundation and its people — each element standing strong on its own, but forming something greater together.
Future & scalability
Amfi is designed as a concept that can grow and adapt. Future Amfi installations may appear in other Amvest developments, each tailored to its context while staying true to the same principles of connection, flexibility, and playfulness.
Its modular structure makes it easy to scale, making Amfi suitable for diverse settings — from residential streets and neighbourhood squares to urban parks and waterfronts.
