On the edge of the heart of Amsterdam, near Vondelpark and Leidseplein, stands the Anna Rooze residential complex. Almost all homes in the complex have their own 'outdoor space' with a lot of privacy. What's striking about the apartments is the variety of housing types. Anna Rooze offers both two-story family homes with a private garden, as well as homes with a large roof terrace; penthouses and an apartment suitable for living and working. A communal garden has been created on the roof of the parking garage.
For the architectural firm Geusebroek Stefanova, it is slowly becoming routine. For the fourth time, a project by this pair has been nominated for the Amsterdam New Construction Prize. In fact, the first time, in 2007, they won with the residential building De Monnik, right in the middle of the Red Light District.
That's also their specialty: building new constructions amidst existing old buildings without them looking out of place. This time it concerns a block of 25 homes on Kanaalstraat in Oud-West.
Svetla Stefanova (40) explains: “We look very closely at the characteristics of the environment and give them a contemporary interpretation. We want to continue the nineteenth-century facade, strengthen that character, and yet offer modern living comfort.”
The block was demolished as part of an extensive renovation in Oud-West by housing corporation De Alliantie, says general director Anne Wilbers (48). "Where possible, we renovated, but this block was in such bad condition that renovating was not feasible. That was also decided in one evening with the residents, who could return if they wanted to."
Wilbers is very pleased with the result: “It adds something to the neighborhood, it's of very high quality, and it hasn't become a dime a dozen.” She even opted for an expensive variant: instead of one elevator and a gallery for the upper apartments, there are three entrances with elevators. “This gives everyone their private space outside at the rear.” Stefanova still remembers that it was exciting when the Alliance had to make that choice.
But the destination of these homes is also special. They are all rental properties, but the amount of rent depends on the tenant's income – even if it's higher than the social housing norm. To live there, applicants also had to leave a social housing unit behind. Thus, a project like Anna Rooze offers a solution for all those 'imbalanced renters' who actually occupy social housing with too high an income, but cannot find an affordable alternative in the city.
Like Lara van der Krift (37) and Mark van der Vecht (39). They lived with two children in a tiny social housing apartment in Oud-Zuid, 55 square meters. “We didn’t have money to buy a home,” says Van der Krift. “And renting in the private sector was also unaffordable.”
"That's when we found this, just right for us. We met the requirements: giving up a social housing apartment and not having too high an income." Now they have 108 square meters and pay 1090 euros per month, including service costs and a spot in the parking garage – because that's also underneath.
The residents gave their complex an 8.6, and the jury finds that perfectly justified. "The spacious homes are beautifully integrated into the street," according to Stef Hehemann. And Willemijn van Kempen: "The communal backyard is ideal for children."
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