On the former site of the Pieter Caland College, three residential towers have risen within Osdorp's urban plan. Each urban villa contains sixteen owner-occupied apartments spread over five floors. In order to maintain the leafy green character of the area as much as possible, the parking facilities are located half underground under the towers. As a result, the first residential floor came to be at bell level. The part of the parking garage that protrudes under the buildings serves as a terrace for the residences. The facades consist of precast concrete floor edges with alternating glass facades and colored panels behind figured glass. The towers are almost identical, only the superstructures of the penthouses differ to provide a slight variation.
On the spot where the Osdorper Scholengemeenschap and later the Calandlyceum used to stand, three five-story apartment buildings have risen. Urban villas, they are called in contemporary developer jargon, but for the residents they are above all lovely homes. There used to be a lot of green, and during construction the mature trees and grassy areas were spared, so that you live in a park, as it were. That, in particular, is what the residents called a plus in their grades. "The then chairman of the district council, Simon Willing, lived opposite, and he wanted to keep it green," explains architect Floor Arons (40). "On many new construction sites, the greenery comes much later. Here we had to make buildings that are guests in the greenery. That's why we made round corners and didn't use brick. The public space didn't become a closing item, I'm very proud of that." Residents also praise the space of their homes, with plenty of light all around. The upper floors are also enriched with a huge roof terrace, true penthouses along Pieter Calandlaan.
So the high rating, a 9 around, can't be a surprise. And for Rob (54) and Jane (53) Stom, it is even more special. Only when, after years in Almere, they returned to Amsterdam did they realize that they were back exactly where they had met, in class at Osdorper Scholengemeenschap.
"I was originally from Geuzenveld, Jane from Slotervaart, so when we wanted to move back from Almere - the kids were out the door - we first looked in West," Rob says. "We did look for a large balcony or terrace, so this was immediately to our liking." The couple is one of those lucky ones who can enjoy a large terrace upstairs. Yet they only paid 290,000 euros for their 107-square-meter apartment plus space in the parking garage. "Don't build too expensive, but also not too small, that families with children can move in," director Winfred de Nijs (52) of M.J. de Nijs, both builder and developer, had chosen as his starting point. His company was one of the parties allowed to present their vision for this fallow area in a competition held by the municipality. "And I started to tell with passion what we wanted there."
"The apartment buildings are unusually incorporated into the landscape," he now notes with satisfaction. "This is bold construction in an inappropriate location. I think they are gems." "Indeed," confirms Jane Stom, "this is a combination of a beautiful building and a beautiful setting, with public transportation, theater and schools nearby. We live in a park and are fifteen minutes to Leidseplein." The jury that selected the ten candidates was equally charmed. "A beautiful building with a pleasant outdoor space," Natasja Keller opined. "And the price for that surface is quite positive," said Henne Roelvink. "This building shoots above it."
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