Waterfort stands as a striking fort in the waters of the Sloterplas. As with most forts, the silhouette of the building is the basis of its recognition. The silhouette of this building is emphasized with white contour lines. On the inside, these strong contour moldings transition into a white frame of open-work surfaces. This creates a clear difference between the hard, dark exterior and the light structure of the interior area.
A 25-meter-wide gate forms the entrance to the apartment complex. From the Ookmeerweg, one bridge leads to the parking level, which features plenty of greenery and daylight entering through gratings. This level is a basin situated on the water surface with a garden above it. A second bridge, for pedestrians, leads to the level of the courtyard, which is finished primarily in wood. Decorative steel gratings form the tree-lined central floor section.
“Here you see a success story: this is the result when two parties in two locations combine their plans to create a greater whole.” Striking in Osdorp and Geuzenveld: Hennie van der Baan and Erik Gremmee.
Executive Board Chairman Gerard Anderiesen (54) of the Stadgenoot housing association—formed by the merger of Het Oosten and the Algemene Woningbouw Vereniging—points to the three completely different buildings that mark a corner near the Sloterpark in Osdorp: the Bastion, the Schutterstoren (discussed here two weeks ago), and ’t Waterfort.
The AWV owned a complex of social housing here that was demolished. In addition, developer Proper Stok wanted to build on the site of a run-down former school. By working together, we were able to make something special out of it. Even the roads were rerouted for that purpose.
The Bastion, intended for the social housing sector, was built first so that the residents of the old porch flats could move into their new homes before their old ones were demolished. The Schutterstoren was exclusively for buyers. The 130 apartments in ’t Waterfort were originally intended mostly for rental. "But when sales started, demand was so high that the ratio was reversed: 95 for sale, 35 for private rent," says project manager Jan Kösters of contractor Dura Vermeer Bouw Amsterdam.
The construction presented the necessary challenges. Architect Jacques van Paassen had designed large, protruding concrete sections, but that would have resulted in a much too heavy structure. Therefore, in consultation with the architect, we executed them in polyester; you can't tell the difference.
Like in most new housing developments in Nieuw-West, about three-quarters of the residents in 't Waterfort come from the neighborhood itself. Hennie van der Baan (60) has lived in Osdorp since she was eighteen. “I wanted to stay here no matter what; this is a very pleasant neighborhood. You have everything at hand here: shops, sports facilities, the Meervaart theater, a large park. Three tram lines take you to wherever you want to go.”
"You live out here, but you're also in the city center in no time. At the same time, you're quickly out of the city. Handy for Erik, because he works in IJmuiden." Together they looked at quite a bit of new construction. Erik Gremmee (48): "On the Pieter Calandlaan we couldn't change anything about the layout. The Schutterstoren has no outdoor space, and we really wanted that."
"We missed out on 't Waterfort in the ballot," Van der Baan adds, "but we kept badgering the real estate agent on the phone. Eventually, a prospective buyer dropped out and we still became eligible."
They are proud of their 140-square-meter home, for which they paid 328,000 euros, including a parking space. “You would easily have to pay double for that inside the ring road!”
Receive updates on new construction in the region directly in your email
