The densest area in the NETHERLANDS includes Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and everything in between. Referred to as the “Randstad,” or “urban conglomeration,” the region is plagued by enormous population pressures, and housing is constantly under development. The Randstad is also a place where new municipalities such as Almere have been created on land reclaimed from the sea. Seeking to bring attention to this greener, cheaper suburb established in 1984, the city set aside 10 plots of land in 1993 as part of an experimental housing competition called “Fantasy.” A little-known Dutch architect, René Van Zuuk, was among the winners for his design of Villa Psyche, his first project, subsequently built on one of the sites. While modest in number, Van Zuuk’s designs are striking and highly diverse in character [see record, December 2002, page 102]. Expressive aptly describes his body of work, which includes the eye-catching Amsterdam Center for Architecture (ARCAM), completed in 2003 on the harbor behind the city’s central station.