At the far tip of the Grote Rieteiland, a cluster of three autonomous residential blocks has been designed under the supervision of Architecture Central Thijs Asselbergs. According to the urban development plan, three robust residential blocks, designed by different architects, were to be built here with collective interior spaces. The autonomy of the blocks has been enhanced by raising them slightly above ground level. The construction blocks are similar in main form, but differ in color, material use, and detailing.
The Architecture Centre designed Block 3a with 43 owner-occupied, attached houses in three stories above a semi-subterranean parking garage. All homes are accessed via the central courtyard and have both a private garden facing this courtyard and a rooftop terrace. The living rooms located on the outer sides of the block feature an extra-high ceiling and large glass panes. Various bay sizes ensure diversity in the housing types.
The exterior facades are characterized by dark, rough brick, large glass facades, and enameled glass. Horizontally, the floors are interrupted by steel UNP profiles that reinforce the layering of the block. The interior facades are constructed of sand-yellow brick and gray-toned wooden frames. The precise detailing and abundant glass make the block shine like a gem in this prominent location.
IJburg understandably leaves a heavy mark on the list of candidates for the New Construction Prize. Yet, most residents there are less satisfied than those in other new construction projects in Amsterdam. Fourteen residential blocks on IJburg competed, which were completed in the course of 2006. Of these, only four made it into the top twenty with the highest resident ratings. Eight scored below the average grade of 7.5. And the jury that compiled the top ten let only two of the four top performers advance. Today, we look at Rieteiland West Block 3a – yes, the names are prosaic, there on IJburg.
As soon as you drive from Steigereiland onto Haveneiland, you'll see them lying across the water: three low residential blocks built in large squares. The plan is by architect Thijs Asselbergs (50), who also designed the first square.
"The urban development plan already stipulated that the blocks had to have courtyards," Asselbergs explains. "Within those conditions, you have to make it a chocolate box yourself. The exterior is strong and sleek, the interior is a lot softer."
He had to cut back on a number of ideas at the request of client Waterstad 3, one of the large consortia developing IJburg. The corporations Ymere and De Alliantie, AM Wonen, Bouwfonds Ontwikkeling, and Volker Wessels Vastgoed are participating in Waterstad 3. "Then the challenge is to try to bring a lot of quality for less money," Asselbergs explains. "Air, light, and space, that's what residential architecture is all about."
The jury found that Asselbergs succeeded in this. “It’s as if the building is being lifted and floats in space,” said Pablo Herrera. René Berbee found it a ‘typical architects’ project’, but beautiful with its courtyard.
Asselbergs always says he gets nervous when he rings the doorbell of a resident of 'his' house: "Someone else lives and breathes in what you have imagined." But he has little to fear from Jacqueline Brouwer (48) and Philip Monas (49). For their three-story home with a total of 135 square meters, they paid 345,500 euros. This includes a spot in the parking garage. And a lot of outdoor space. "Down here we can sit outside,"
Brouwer says. "The children can also play safely there, because no cars come here.
But if we want to sit quietly, we also have a large terrace on the second floor.
The courtyard is the meeting place for the residents of the 33 houses. "Ideal for petanque
"boules competition," Monas explains. "Exactly what Asselbergs wanted: a kind of French village square."
Brouwer and Monas first lived in the Vierwindenhuis on Wittenburg, but they were looking for a place where they could buy two houses next to each other with neighbors. "It's very nice living here," Monas explains. "You're at Diemerpark in no time and there are no cars driving here; our little street is a dead end."
The other residents strongly agree, given the rating of nine. They praise the ample living space and the intimate inner courtyard.
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