Samos, also known as the Twins, consists of two towers overlooking the Science Park on one side and Watergraafsmeer on the other. The complex has 17 floors and a total of 87 apartments built into it. The facade consists of a fine pattern of natural slate and windows, with the color transitioning from brown at the bottom to gray at the top of the tower. In this way, the towers appear to dissolve into the sky. The window frames and facade are made of Accoya wood. The windows have been made as large as possible to optimize the entry of light. Natural materials inspired this concept, giving the building a high cuddle factor and a unique character of its own.
From afar, the striking residential building Samos – understandably soon called De Tweeling or Twin Towers – is a beacon at the entrance to Science Park, the science center in East between Flevopark, the A10 ring road, and the railway embankment.
The residents have a panoramic view over all those stranded Fyras at the Watergraafsmeer marshalling yard. This partly determines the special shape of this pair of residential towers, which suddenly flare out from the fifth floor.
The railway yard imposed extremely strict requirements for sound insulation, which is why a second façade made of rust-colored slates was hung around the concrete tower. "In this way, the mandatory sound barrier has become the decoration," says architect Maartje Lammers (50) of 24H-architecture proudly.
“We wanted to see if you could make high-rise buildings with a natural product; we had to test the slate tiles for storm resistance. Behind the windows, there are openings in the slate facade with glass louvers. Floors and ceilings continuously extend between the apartment wall and that outer facade, so people can annex that space. I notice that herbs and tomatoes are now being grown there. In this way, a handicap becomes a distinctive feature.”
The two towers with a parking garage between them are built into the dike body of the Ringvaart. "That is technically very exciting," explains Niels Doodeman (44), the director of Heddes Bouw en Ontwikkeling. "You cannot dig deep there, so this building has a three-dimensional foundation."
The underground parking garage sunken into the dike is nicely hidden from view because a three-story row of houses has been built against it. Moreover, nearly one hundred cars are stored in three layers by a computer-controlled system.
With such a garage space, Leendert van Baaren (51) paid 335,000 euros, including bought-off ground lease, for 116 square meters on the top floor. "I was looking in this part of the city," Van Baaren says, "because my old building further down the Ringdijk was too small and too old. And I really wanted a balcony and to be as high up as possible; here I have both. Fantastic."
Likewise, the other residents (there are 87 homes) are very pleased with the layout of their homes and the appearance of their residential building. However, they have quite a few complaints about the finish, which suffered due to the interim bankruptcy of the contractor.
At first, the five jury members were not very enthusiastic about the exterior: the rust-brown slates with wooden slats. "Looks like it's not finished yet," they thought. But once inside, their verdict changed: beautiful homes with a magnificent view, at a very favorable price.
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