The face of the city, that is. Amsterdam is offering hundreds of ornamental building parts, the kind that let you know what city and era you’re in, to developers who will include them in new buildings to maintain the city’s image.
Unfortunately, the reason the city owns all these gables with flowers and leaves, these bunches of grapes, those coats of arms and icons, is that previous generations of developers of new buildings discarded them when tearing down buildings ranging in age from medieval times through the 18th century.
There’s no charge for any of the pieces, but recipients are responsible for transporting them—and crucially, for identifying how and where they will used them, and for pledging to be respectful of their historic value. The city is also encouraging artists to identify good spots for them in public places.
