Amsterdam University Library

The Singel 425 building stands out for the massive, angular concrete canopy that juts over the sidewalk like a giant gray diving board. When it opened in nineteen sixty-eight, this annex to the University of Amsterdam library replaced a row of traditional canal houses. Architect Joop van Stigt designed the structure with a brutalist focus on raw functionality and light, creating a stark contrast to the historic brick gables nearby. Students still gather under that heavy overhang to escape the Dutch rain.