The Don Bosco neighbourhood in the East of Amsterdam where this new apartment building is situated consists of a typical mix of nineteen-century row houses and orthogonally strips of post war housing. This apartment building, designed together with Studio Appelo, is situated at a new square that will become a focal point of the renewed area. Although the question from the municipality was to relate the new building to the nineteen century housing typology with their base, middle part and a visible angled roofs, the 20 new apartments are designed to also honour their own typology. The five rows of French balconies with the dormer windows on top makes the viewer count several houses making them fit into their nineteen century urban context. Meanwhile the cantilevered planter on the front facade marks the entrance to the Alan Turing Apartments. Being it social housing, a sense of togetherness and ownership of the building is emphasized by a rich detailing of the facade and interior. One should feel home already when entering the stairwell reaching up to the individual dwellings. Balconies on the back of the facade are situated along the gallery and invite the inhabitants to socialize as much as wanted. Finally a rhythm of vertical and horizontal masonry piers bind together the front, rear and sides of the building as well as the people living there.
Location Amsterdam, Netherlands
Year 2023
Client Studio Appelo / Ymere
Contractor HSB Bouw B.V.