Koningshof is located on the green outskirts of Amsterdam-Zuidoost. The green and water-rich neighborhood mainly consists of low-rise buildings. The 22 water houses directly border the water at the rear. The houses have wooden terraces floating above the water. The water houses consist of two floors and have a surface area of 100 m2. A roof terrace is located on the second floor, but it also offers space for a roof extension. If a roof extension is chosen, the roof terrace will surround the extension, giving residents views of the water and greenery on all sides. All houses have a front garden with parking for cars and bicycles. The houses are built from dark brick, creating robust, sturdy volumes.
And now for the other end. Where the Koningshoef apartment building once stood, you can clearly see the transformation of the Bijlmer. On one side, the Kraaiennest shopping center and the old honeycomb flats of the Bijlmer Museum. On the other side, streets with new low-rise buildings of all shapes and sizes, along the lowered 's-Gravendijkdreef.
Delta Forte, the development department of housing corporation Rochdale, has built a large number of homes there together with contractors UBA and De Nijs, thirty percent for social rental and the rest for sale. But at their own risk, without waiting until a certain percentage had already been bought off paper.
It was a lesson, explains Willem van der Steen (59), project manager at Delta Forte. "In ten years' time, the balance has shifted towards what the market demands; that is now decisive." An initial plan for this neighborhood included more expensive homes, but those sold "poorly to not at all." "Rochdale took over a portion and rented them out; that worked."
With that experience in mind, architect Neelu Boparai (39) was commissioned to design the "golden edge" of the neighborhood: single-family homes with a water-view terrace. However, after a change in the target audience, this had to be modest, functional, and efficient.
Boparai calls it a challenge. "It's a very beautiful location with high potential, by the water, along Bijlmer Park. And that unique spot had to be accessible to everyone."
The residents of the 22 homes are very happy with the result: they gave it an 8.1. Marion Hamel (49) and Lucien Felicien (53) find their new home more than beautiful. When their apartment building Gerenstein was demolished in 1991, they moved into a rental property in Nieuw Sloten. Buying there was too expensive for them, but when they saw a drawing of Koningshof, they were immediately enthusiastic.
"I saw that brochure and said, 'Wow, this is it! We didn't look any further,'” says Hamel. “It really is top-notch what has changed here in the Bijlmer.”
"Back in the day, in that apartment on the sixth floor," Felicien adds, "you were only home once you closed your own door behind you. Now you're already home when you get to the street. Here it's like you're on vacation."
The jury also fell for this row of homes. "You won't go crazy about it," says Willemijn van Kempen, "but it's absolutely worth the money." William Kobossen particularly emphasizes the importance of the Bijlmer's revitalization. He himself lives in an owner-occupied home on the former site of the Eeftink apartment building, which he gave an eight. He paid 250,000 euros for it.
The homes at Koningshof are even cheaper: 232,000 euros for a whopping one hundred square meters. "An excellent price-quality ratio," judges jury member Stef Hehemann.
"Everyone can enjoy this," architect Boparai states with satisfaction. "I was extremely surprised by the high rating. The houses are not eye-catching or luxurious at all. But that people live there with so much pleasure, I wish them that. I design for them."
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