On the corner of Rijnstraat, Lekstraat, and Vechtstraat, the Thomas Aquinas church has been demolished. On the site that became available at the head of this closed block, a new building has been realized consisting of 34 apartments for seniors. Commercially rentable spaces and a service center have been realized on the ground floor. A two-story parking garage under the building also provides parking spaces for local residents.
In Nieuw-Zuid, near Lekstraat, there is a turning point from expressionist brickwork to a more streamlined, restrained brick architecture from the late twenties and thirties. The massing and façade composition of these latter brick buildings in the surrounding blocks on Rijnstraat have been taken as a starting point. The façades are built with yellow-toned, coal-fired molded bricks.
The interior of the building has a more intimate character. The homes are arranged in a U-shape around the communal courtyard. The wide wooden decks serve as access and outdoor space for the homes. This south-facing white wooden interior thus forms a pleasant covered extension of the homes.
"It's really very pleasant living here," says Ria Hulzebos (58). "Everything you need is around you, and you can get out of the city in no time. Public transport is great, Amstel and RAI stations are nearby." Hulzebos and her husband Ruud Pool (64) have been living in Aquinohof with great satisfaction since April 2006, that much is clear. Although they also regret that the Thomas Church, at the corner of Rijnstraat and Lekstraat in Zuideramstel, had to be demolished for their new living space. The church, built in 1925, was indeed a fine example of Amsterdam School architecture and by no means a ruin. But yes, not enough believers. The new building looks quite modest.
Too modest, thought several members of the jury that compiled the top ten. "The detailing could have been a bit more extensive," judged René Berbee, himself an architect. The designer of the building, Paul Wintermans (56) of Quist Wintermans Architects in Rotterdam, explains that it was precisely his intention to ensure the new building fit well into its surroundings. "It is contemporary, but not an object that stands on its own."
This is precisely why developer De Principaal had asked him. "Shortly before, I had designed a large residential building on Balboaplein, which is also embedded in buildings from the Amsterdam School. Moreover, it involved a combination of residences and a school, while the Aquinohof, in addition to residences, also contains two underground parking levels and a care center on the ground floor. But as modest as the exterior is, the interior unfolds surprisingly. Wintermans: "The communal space on the way to the residences faces directly south. This has created a kind of ship decks where older residents can meet each other." The jury found these courtyards beautiful; this is especially why the Aquinohof advanced to the final ten.
The Aquinohof was built specifically for the elderly. Ten of the 34 rental apartments are intended for tenants with physical disabilities. All homes are "age-proof" and already prepared for special facilities. It was precisely this design that dampened protests in the neighborhood against the demolition of the church.
Hulzebos and Pool lived nearby, on Boterdiepstraat. "We were looking for a new rental property where I would have space for a home-based practice," says Hulzebos. Here, she and her husband have a 120-square-meter apartment, for which they have to pay 1300 euros per month, including service charges and a garage in the basement. For that price, the home offers a fully equipped kitchen and a spacious bathroom. And so there's that ship-deck-like outdoor space, which could use some sprucing up – a few planters would do wonders. That complaint is also found in the survey forms returned from Aquinohof. As well as about all the modern electronics – for video connections and automatic doors – which are often incomprehensible, especially for the elderly. Or break easily.
But the positive reactions are predominant; residents gave an average of a solid 8.5. Spacious homes, the outdoor terraces, and the safety all contribute to the high score. “Every guest pauses in wonder when the elevator doors open.” Plus the coziness of Rijnstraat: “Just like a small village, where all the shopkeepers and other people interact very friendly with each other.”
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