Stadstekenaar: Escamp

As Stadstekenaar of The Hague, Philip Akkerman paints a cityscape of all districts of The Hague. This month: city district office Escamp.

The fourth drawing by Philip Akkerman of the Escamp district office depicts a fascinating building. The seventeen-storey complex towers above the neighbourhood and thus literally serves as a beacon for the wider area. Some local residents experience it as distant, or even dystopian. At the same time, others regard the design as striking and futuristic – “a bit Star Wars”. Moreover, the building is more than just a district office. With a library, municipal services, 49 apartments and a car park, it functions almost as a “second city hall” for The Hague South West. According to former alderman Marnix Norder, the building is intended to act as a catalyst for the development of the surrounding area. Philip Akkerman considers it a very special and iconic building. He says: “But I’m glad I’m not a window cleaner.”