Het Pentagon was designed by Aldo van Eyck and Theo Bosch between 1975 and 1983, on the perimeter of a formerly demolished inner-city block. A prolonged dispute broke out between the architects and the Amsterdam city council regarding the redevelopment of the historic Nieuwmarkt area following their winning proposal in 1969. After sustained efforts by both the architects and the neighborhood movement, they succeeded in persuading the city to adopt a masterplan that respected the structure of the historic city.

The film explores the specific spatial qualities of Het Pentagon by visiting its residents in their homes. Built as social housing above the metro line and embedded in a lively urban context, the project raises questions about how its courtyard typology and design function within the city. The inhabitants offer critical reflections on the successes and limitations of the architecture in relation to everyday life and the surrounding environment.

A film by Nikolay Marinov, Neshe Nedzhati, Marius Helten, Leonard Wertgen, Florian Fischer-Almannai.