A new residential and office tower in Amsterdam

After a pitch in 2023, we were invited by Maarsen Groep to design a new residential and work building in the Buiksloterham district in Amsterdam. This area is undergoing rapid development, and the municipality has great ambitions for this promising waterfront location. Where the area was previously used as an industrial business park, Buiksloterham is transforming into an urban district where living and working are combined.

The whole creates an intriguing layering through clever proportions and shifts between the volumes. A solid plinth anchors the building and also provides space for relaxation. Strategic recesses create inviting outdoor areas that offer relaxation and enrich the urban fabric. An elegant pergola on the ground floor connects the volumes and contributes to the green facades and roofs. Each volume is uniquely designed to fulfill its specific function, with architecture characterized by clean horizontal lines and playful vertical planes, subtly referencing the industrial heritage of the Buiksloterham.

The building’s height accent contains 104 residences spread over thirteen floors. With various housing typologies and a mix of social rental and private sector homes, the building provides accommodation for different target groups. All homes will receive an energy label of A+++. In addition, residents of the social rental homes can make use of a communal living room and outdoor space. The other homes are characterized by spacious outdoor areas, large sliding doors, and pleasant loggias, offering beautiful views of the water.

The plinth supports the building and prevents water nuisance during high water or floods. Water retention and reduction of heat stress are promoted, while intensive green and brown roofs stimulate biodiversity and generate energy through PV panels. The design, in collaboration with Baljon landscape architects and an ecologist, includes green façades, roofs, nesting boxes for various bird species, and insect habitats.