Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
A park full of trees, a busy ring road next to it and a popular neighborhood as a neighbor: the location on Betuwestraat presented KAW Architects with considerable puzzles. Yet a residential complex has been created that fits the picture exactly. Architect Mathieu Kastelijn explains how.
The building consists of forty social rental apartments for housing corporation Tiwos. The plan was developed together with construction company Hendriks Coppelmans, through a Design & Build assignment. This collaboration worked out well, says Kastelijn: “Because we were at the table together from the beginning, we were able to create a compact and efficient building. Affordable, but with quality.” The result is an all-sided building whose first floor is half a floor higher, so that residents have an unobstructed view over the greenery without being overlooked by passersby. “That also provided space for an entrance hall half a floor high. Not a dark corridor, but a place where you can enter pleasantly and meet each other.”
The trees surrounding the site were largely preserved. That required clever fitting and measuring. “After analysis, a plot of 25 by 25 meters remained. Our building fits right in there,” Kastelijn says. The location next to the ring road also required creativity. Loggias were incorporated into the facade so that residents are not bothered by traffic noise. Together with landscape agency Studio REDD, the park was redesigned, including relocated playing fields and new places to play sports.
The new building is in the Jerusalem neighborhood, known for its postwar Airey homes. The facade design subtly references that architectural style. “We chose a masonry bond reminiscent of the old concrete system. Not a copy, but a modern nod,” says Kasteleijn. The green plinth complements the park-like surroundings.
The complex has fourteen one-bedroom apartments and twenty-six two-bedroom apartments. All are ground-floor and move-in ready. “We expected a lot of interest from seniors in the neighborhood. For them, a spacious mobility scooter storage and wide hallways have been built.”
Affordability went hand in hand with housing quality. “The trick is to make a rational building,” Kastelijn explains. “A simple floor plan, little loss area and short pipes. That saves costs, without you noticing it as a resident. That way you keep budget for a facade that exudes quality.”
The municipality was closely involved and local residents thought along. “People were happy that the trees remained and the parking pressure was solved. And many neighbors expressed a desire to live in the new complex themselves. That enthusiasm from the neighborhood was contagious.”
For Kastelijn, the project is not just about a beautiful building, but primarily about what it adds to the neighborhood. The complex facilitates circulation, provides seniors with suitable housing while preserving the quality of the park. “Everyone has the right to good housing,” he says. “By designing sharply and making smart choices, we really manage to combine affordability and quality. That is the strength of this project.”
