Amsterdam To Build Underground City Beneath Canals

To help relieve some of the pressure from overcrowding and soaring land prices, Dutch engineers have recently unveiled plans for an underground city to be constructed below Amsterdam, beneath the canals. The £7.4 billion project, called Amfora, will eventually materialize into a six level, one million square foot subterranean city, complete with retail, leisure and parking facilities.

Because Amsterdam was originally built on drained marshland and many of the cities classic houses still sit upon aging wooden beams, it was decided that building down was the best option. The plans call for the water in the canals to be temporarily pumped out while a combination of natural clay and concrete will be used to reseal the canal floor, making it possible for the water to pour back into the canals and for construction to safely continue below.

The technique is being applauded for its simplicity and the fact that it won’t create drilling noises on the street. Additionally, the plan will minimize overall city disruption by utilizing the canals to bring in all materials, freeing the streets from over-sized trucks.

One of the main problems this massive overhaul is addressing is parking. Currently, residents are waiting up to seven years to obtain a parking permit and spending up to £74,000 on garage (the new project is estimated to bring that cost down to £19,000).

The project has already been approved by Amsterdam’s city council, and construction is likely to begin in 2018, lasting approximately 20 years.
[via The Telegraph]