The purpose the new residential area in Amsterdam, the Weespertrekvaart is to create a new mixed residential-work city district with an industrial theme. As part of a mixed-use block, Kavel 1b is characterised by a busy street on the long elevation and two more quiet streets on the short sides. A double height plinth of 8 meters high, a requirement like all the other blocks in the urban plan enables work related functions that can change over time.
The building envelope consists of a plinth of 8 meters, a common roof landscape and room for natural inclusion in the architecture. Kavel 1b is further broken down into distinct architectural expression one for each of the two buildings sharing a recognisable plinth with addresses on the street.
Our design concept, three buildings - one community, is inspired by the history and industrial urban quality of the location. Each building associates itself within the industrial heritage of the location, once and still being a place for low rise light industrial usage. The combination of a tough industrial building block and a metal silo tower on top of a brick warehouse sokkel forms the architectural community. A tactile detailing of brick stitching and gentle curving facade adulation makes the building attractive up close.
