The new pearl on the IJ

NorthBaak connects living, working and recreation

The NDSM wharf in Amsterdam is being transformed into a lively urban neighborhood. With a mix of living, working and recreation, residents will have a unique living experience right on the IJ. One of the new construction projects making this possible is NoordBaak. The project consists of four residential buildings with 207 apartments, a green courtyard, commercial spaces and (bicycle) parking facilities. Project leader Marco Spee of Kondor Wessels Amsterdam gives a look behind the scenes of this ambitious project.

NoordBaak was designed by architecture firm De Zwarte Hond, which responds to the industrial character of the NDSM wharf with robust red bricks and playful height accents. The green courtyard garden is the beating heart of the project and offers residents a place to relax. Sustainability also plays an important role: the area will be car-free and there is space for as many as 550 bicycles. There will also be a beautiful, nature-inclusive inner garden and the buildings will be heated and cooled from a WKO installation.

For starters, a large target group within this project, it is an attractive place. Partly because of its excellent accessibility, thanks to its proximity to the ferry across the IJ to Amsterdam Central. "This project shows how to combine living, working and recreation in an inner-city environment," Spee says. "We have really put something here that matches the energy of the NDSM wharf."

The approach

As part of construction group VolkerWessels, Kondor Wessels Amsterdam specializes in inner-city projects in Greater Amsterdam. With a team of 160 employees, the company realizes everything from non-residential to residential construction. For NoordBaak, Kondor Wessels fulfills a turnkey role: from groundwork to completion. "We coordinate the entire process and work with 34 partners," Spee explains. "And that cooperation is crucial to success."

NorthBaak is part of the area development of G&S&, also part of VolkerWessels. "That's how we got hooked into the construction team," Spee explains. This strong network made it possible to be involved as early as the development phase and seamlessly transition to execution. "Ultimately, we deliver everything turnkey to the seventy buyers of the apartments and to housing corporation Lieven de Key."

Logistical challenges

An inner-city project on the IJ naturally presents logistical challenges. The construction site is enclosed on two sides by water and offers limited storage space. "Our shack is on a pontoon in the water four meters away from the jetty. Managing two construction streams in this project is quite a challenge due to the limited space. For example, we are working without a hub and are betting on just-in-time deliveries," Spee says. "Thanks to cooperation with the municipality, we have arranged temporary storage on the quay. In addition, our logistics porter ensures that all deliveries arrive at the right place." Coordination with other parties, such as Liander and Vattenfall, also requires tight planning. "It's a puzzle sometimes, but that's what makes the work fun. It's great to see how everyone works hard to make this project run smoothly."

Proud of the team

What Spee is most proud of? The team. "The start of the construction brought a lot of uncertainty due to planning and price increases, but thanks to the cooperation with our partners, everything still runs like clockwork. Everyone has time to do their job well and that is reflected in the results. Failure costs are reduced and there is peace and quiet on the building site, which benefits safety. Kondor Wessels Amsterdam was also voted the Safest Builder in the Netherlands - that's teamwork at its best!"