Exhibition: ZJA 35 Years at Arcam

Founded in 1990 through the remarkable collaboration between Moshé Zwarts (1937–2019) and Rein Jansma (1959–2023), ZJA Architects & Engineers has grown into a leading firm specializing in the design of bridges, stadiums, stations, and other exceptional projects. Captured in a unique timeline and intriguing—sometimes moving—visuals, the exhibition highlights several signature projects, including in Amsterdam: the recently renovated Climate House at the Hortus, the Diamond Exhange Capital C at Weesperplein, the Albert Cuyp Garage under the Boerenwetering canal, the renovation of Amsterdam Central Station, and the Leidseplein Bicycle Parking.

In drawer cabinets, you can admire models of projects such as Zuidasdok, venue building Silt Middelkerke, and the Extended Waal Bridge, along with a range of ZJA’s distinctive form studies and wire models. By opening the drawers, you can explore the design process behind these realized projects through intriguing experiments, small models, and drawings. This brings ZJA’s characteristic inventive structural thinking, craftsmanship, and curiosity for new techniques literally within reach—because touching is allowed! Curious about the meaning behind the exhibition’s title? Find out the story on the wall.

Today, 50 enthusiastic team members work passionately under the leadership of Rob Torsing, Reinald Top, Ralph Kieft, Erik Smits, and Kay Oosterman on a wide range of fascinating projects—and recently, together they created a special artwork. An impressive sculpture that, with its fluid form, connects the exhibition spaces at Arcam and pays tribute to all ZJA employees over the past 35 years—those who made it all happen, interwoven through time.

The over four-meter-high structure is made up of 58 transparent tubes filled with 21,549 blue beads, precisely representing how long 301 people have worked for ZJA over the past 35 years. Equipped with two glowing “lifelines,” this artwork will cast a warm light over the quay and the waters of the Oosterdok— during the dark months ahead.