Almere stadshart

Modern architecture without apology

Almere is a city that has nothing to prove when it comes to architecture, and you feel that the moment you step onto Stadhuisplein. The buildings here are large, wilful and sometimes outright provocative in form. That makes it an interesting place to work for photographers who enjoy clean lines, but also for those who want to capture the collision between volumes and textures.

The town hall by Rem Koolhaas is the most striking anchor point. The facade plays with glass, concrete and a sloping structure that looks different again around every corner. Walk all the way around it. A wide-angle lens works well here, especially if you use the distortion deliberately to emphasise the scale. But a 50mm or 85mm at eye level also gives interesting results, because it keeps the proportions calmer and lets the architecture speak for itself.

Light and timing

Almere Stadshart is open and flat, as you would expect from a polder. That means light falls on the facades without obstruction. In the morning it catches the eastern side of the square sharply, with long shadows that bring out the volumes. Later in the afternoon the shadows swing the other way and the light becomes warmer in colour. Overcast weather works too, particularly for detail shots where you want the texture of concrete or glass to take centre stage.

The square is photogenic all year round. In winter it is quieter and you can compose clean lines without people in the frame. In summer there is more life on the street, which is useful for street photography.

Practical

You can park in the car parks at Almere Centrum, including those close to the stadshart itself. The square is public and freely accessible. There are no permit requirements for photographers shooting for personal or editorial purposes, but for commercial shoots involving crew and lighting equipment it is worth contacting the municipality in advance.

Almere is easy to reach by train. Station Almere Centrum is within walking distance of Stadhuisplein, about five minutes on foot.

Sources and further reading

• Gemeente Almere
• OMA / Rem Koolhaas over het stadhuis van Almere
• Wikipedia: Almere Stadshart