WOZOCO

The Western Garden Cities of Amsterdam built in the 1950s and 1960s, are now confronted with big increases in density that continue to threaten their open green spaces, the most important quality of these areas. As part of this operation, a block of 100 apartments for people over 55 years was proposed to mark the end of a facility strip for the elderly.

To still provide adequate sunlight into the surrounding only 87 of the 100 units could be realised within the block. Where could the remaining 13 dwellings be positioned? If they were put elsewhere on the site, the open space would be further reduced.

By 'cantilevering' the remaining 13 units from the north façade, they are literally suspended in the air. The hanging East-West orientated types complete the North-South dwellings in the block with a view over the adjacent polder. By hanging the extra units on the north façade, the ground plane is kept as open and green as possible. A prototypic increase in density for the garden cities is achieved. MVRDV