Foundations of the tunnel
NEMO was built on the foundations of the IJtunnel, the link between the city and Noord that opened in 1968. Since the IJtunnel naturally has a curve, that curved shape was echoed in the building itself. The first sketches for NEMO were made as early as 1990. The building sits on the approach road to the tunnel on the city centre side, which makes it a unique spot in the city.
The Amsterdam piazza
As a true Italian, architect Piano had noticed that the city did not yet have a 'piazza'. Most world cities have a square of that kind with a fine view over the city, but in flat Amsterdam that is of course not easy to achieve. The roof of his museum was therefore at least as important as the inside, and so he created a meeting place for Amsterdammers here, with a stunning view over the city.
