Architect(s): MVRDV
Address: Westerdok 440, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands
Latitude/Longitude: 52.384853,4.891827
Photographs: Rob’t Hart
This project embraces Openness as design concept. This means that the minimal amount of materials are used like glass, steel and concrete to achieve maximum openness for the façade.
The building has total surface of 6000m² including 46 apartments and a day-care centre. A balcony of varying depths which stretch as bands along the entire facade is found in each apartment, offering varied outside spaces and views over the western docklands of Amsterdam. In contrast with the other buildings is the floor-to-ceiling glass façade that can be fully opened, located inside the so called VOC Cour port redevelopment. Other buildings are mainly made of brick.
The urban plan
A closed city block with buildings of differing heights surrounding a central court makes the urban plan. The client O.M.A. (Ontwikkelings Maatschappij Apeldoorn) determined in fact the current urban plan, when two earlier urban plans failed. One façade is facing the waterfront of the Westerdok, as the building is located inside the court.
