The present economic crisis in the Netherlands has seriously affected the building sector. One source of hope, however, is seen in bottom-up strategies for construction. The Noorderpark bar is typical of this trend, as well as representing an undogmatic interpretation of sustainability: all materials were second-hand and acquired via the Markt-plaats online exchange. The bar is situated in a park in North Amsterdam, an area long regarded as a disadvantaged part of the city. In recent years, though, Noord has been discovered as a district with affordable living space and many open areas. The park proved to be a suitable location, since a small alternative cultural centre already existed there – an experimental timber pavilion originally designed by the Swiss architects Meili Peter in 2001 for a building exhibition in Rotterdam. Only the necessary small change was lacking for the creation of the bar. The architects therefore suggested constructing it from cheap leftover material. A local housing association donated a few thousand euros; the rest of the budget was raised by means of crowdfunding.