Location: Amsterdamse Poort, Amsterdam, NL
Year: 2017 - ongoing
Site Footprint: 6.510 m2
FSI Netto: 3.6
Gross Floor Area: 23.987 m2
Parking: 17.220 m2
Total: 41.207 m2 (incl. underground parking)
Total Number of Apartments: 243
ranging in sizes from 50m2, 70m2 and 80m2
Program: Residential, Sport, Public
Client: VLPO, Blauwhoed
Sustainability: Cauberg Huygen
Structural Engineer: IMD Raadgevende Ingenieurs
Installations: Huygen
Landscape: MOSS
Other Architects: MVSA Architects,
Paul de Ruiter Architects

HODO is a high density mixed residential housing project located in Amsterdamse Poort, which has become the city’s second centre with almost 16 million visitors per year. The project is an integral part of Cluster 7, a major development for the transformation and growth of the most east south corner to its full potential. Taking the connection of the entertainment area to the Amsterdamse Poort shopping centre as an axis for the masterplan, the new program includes retail, parking facilities and housing. Cluster 7 is further divided into three separate residential blocks that together form an architectural unit. In this way, a smaller grain is introduced. This prevents the creation of a so-called super block. A a pleasant, pedestrian and green inner street (woonerf) forms a buffer zone between blocks 1 and 2 and block 3.

Our vision is for a healthy urban and sustainable architecture through the creation of accessible roofscapes, affordable housing mix, active plinths, green and energy roofs, nature inclusive facades and hidden underground parking. In order to have less impact of the large volume organisation to the public space, a clear distinction is made between between the base and the top parts of the block.

The base and the top differ in architectural appearance, design, colour and use of materials. The building responds with different housing typologies to different urban conditions whilst the facade is comprised of an urban, lively and sturdy plinth that serves as a visual base for a lighter and more expressive top.

The existing colour palette of Amsterdamse Poort is translated into warmer but also striking shades of dark brown, gold and earth green. In terms of materialisation, one can think of brickwork, natural stone, aluminium, and frames, facades in wood, steel or aluminium. Compared to the base, the topping is lighter in terms of colour palette light gold tinted metal colours, which reflect light, are desirable when building in high densities. Lighter colours also reduce the impact of the high-rise on the surrounding streets. Green areas were designed on teh building not only in the form of accessible roofs gardens but also facade elements to encourage nature inclusiveness and suppressing external heat gain.