STUDENT HOUSING
transformation of an office building in Amsterdam
location
urban design
By reviving the ground floor, the building can make a positive contribution to the social cohesion and safety in the neighbourhood. Due to the height of 11 stories and the characteristic canopy on the roof, the building has potential to be a landmark/icon, both programmatically and physically.
The Elsevier building is located at the “Gulden Winckel”, a slow traffic artery with facilities on both sides such as restaurants, terraces and resting and meeting places. The public square in front of the building offers possibilities to anticipate on these facilities. The current facilities attract public particularly untill three o’clock in the afternoon. New features should focus on the late afternoon and evening to generate sufficient activity for improving social cohesion and security.
transformation of an office building in Amsterdam
| client: | Woningstichting Rochdale/DUWO |
| design: | Benjamin Robichon |
| project team: | XiaoBin Chi, Kirsten Dijkgraaf, Wieshant Manna, Barbara Dirks, Agnes Brante |
| contractor: | Bouwbedrijf de Nijs |
| consultants: | DWA (M&E); Pieters Bouwtechniek (structural engineer) |
| location: | Krelis Louwenstraat 5, Amsterdam |
| plot size: | 3.600 m² |
| floor area: | 11.750 m² |
| start design: | February 2013 |
| start construction: | May 2014 |
| completion: | October 2015 |
location
The building is located in Amsterdam norht east in the district “Bos en Lommer” and is situated next to the highway A10. Because of its location close to the highway, there is an intensive noise exposure on the west facade of the building. While east of the building lies a quiet street; the Krelis Louwenstaart. Because of these major differences, the building asks for another approach for the east and west facade.
urban design
By reviving the ground floor, the building can make a positive contribution to the social cohesion and safety in the neighbourhood. Due to the height of 11 stories and the characteristic canopy on the roof, the building has potential to be a landmark/icon, both programmatically and physically.
The Elsevier building is located at the “Gulden Winckel”, a slow traffic artery with facilities on both sides such as restaurants, terraces and resting and meeting places. The public square in front of the building offers possibilities to anticipate on these facilities. The current facilities attract public particularly untill three o’clock in the afternoon. New features should focus on the late afternoon and evening to generate sufficient activity for improving social cohesion and security.
assignment
The assignment concerns the design and execution of a transformation and renovation of an existing office building “Elsevier” into student housing at the Sara Burgerhartstraat in Amsterdam. By destining the building as “accommodation for students” there is a possibility to anticipate on the enormous shortage of student housing and on the other hand liveliness can be given to the location. On 10 stories, 245 student apartments will be realized, while the ground floor is reserved for small scale business units.
design
The design is characterized by the ground and top floor which both will be used for business purposes. The main entrance for these business units is on the west facade. The business spaces will be finished casco, including a pantry, common toilets, luminaries, etcetera. The floors are designed as student dwellings. Consisting both non-independent units (behind the flight staircases) and independent student units. The entrance of students is located on the public area on the east side. Since the ground floor of the building is raised in comparison with the public space a raised square is added in front of the building, which serves as a meeting place.
Within the existing structure of the building, namely columns with precast concrete floors, it is possible to work flexible in respect of the finishing. However, the programming of student housing falls into established planning grid. The flexibility therefore applies in particular in relation to the small scale business spaces.The existing architecture of the facades will be respected. With one important difference, extra openings will be made in the side facades to gain daylight for the communal rooms of the non-independent units.To solve the noise problem, a double facade system has been developed by creating a new skin in the rooms.
