The new building with fifteen social housing units for seniors and an underground parking garage replaces a detached gymnasium from the 1960s and completes the building block between Andreas Schelfhoutstraat, Surinameplein and Schinkelkade. In urban and architectural terms, the building block and its surroundings are diverse. Immediately adjacent to the site are urban expansions from the nineteenth century, the 1920s and 1930s (Amsterdam School), and the 1960s (AUP by Van Eesteren). Because of the varied surroundings, the urban design is as simple and clear as possible. In scale and structure, the building fits its role to complete the existing building block. By placing the entrance at the head, the angular situation is optimally exploited and the adjacent zone of the bicycle path is enlivened. In the use of materials and detailing, bridges are built between the new building and its surroundings. For example, the plasticity and coloring in the facades and brickwork can be traced back to the architecture of the 1920-1930 period, and the rhythm of open and closed is a reference to the adjacent 1960s building. Also included are aluminum sandwich panels with a 'Diabolo' pattern in reference to the tile panels around the entrances built in the neighborhood around 1915.
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