Golden-yellow eye-catcher marks entrance to new Bajeskwartier

With the development of Bajeskwartier, the former site of the Penitentiary Institution Amsterdam Overamstel will be transformed into an urban neighborhood of the future. The project includes the realization of approximately 1,350 social housing units, (medium) expensive rental and owner-occupied housing units. There will also be a school for secondary education, a sports hall, catering facilities, workshops for artists, a day care center, a health center and a youth center. Part of the project is residential building The Robin (Building G), for which Aldowa is realizing a magnificent aluminum facade that glows golden yellow in the sun.

The Robin houses 129 high-end condominiums and stands at the entrance to the Bajeskwartier. It is the first residential tower within the project to go on sale. Designed by Barcode Architects, the original white volume of one of the prison towers was rebuilt and expanded with three interlocking lower volumes. These "blocks" are raised 4.5 meters off the ground and create space for a light, inviting plinth with public functions at ground level. To add cachet to the blocks, horizontal and vertical aluminum facade bands in an AluGOLD anodization were chosen.

Special compartmentalization and finishing

"Commissioned by contractor BAM Wonen, we produce and assemble the aluminum cladding, says Edwin Nipius, project manager at Aldowa. "Our assignment started with an extensive engineering process, in which the aesthetic design by Barcode Architects was translated into a technical and economic execution/production design. This involved various studies and mock-ups. Especially of the locations where the horizontal and vertical facade bands meet." 

The architect wanted a facade finish with aluminum frames, he says. "An emphatic requirement was a finish with anodization quality. This makes the use of welding a lot less obvious, because welding and possible sanding remain visible after anodizing. Following the studies and mock-ups, a solution with horizontal bands, between which vertical uprights are applied, was finally chosen. Here no welding is required, so the special facade articulation remains intact and the project benefits from a high-quality anodization quality in AluGOLD."

The aluminum façade bands are attached with screws to a prefabricated HSB rear construction, in which the window frames are already pre-assembled. The work is carried out from aerial platforms and from top to bottom. To complete the golden yellow look of the facade, Aldowa is also installing 125 m2 of exterior ceilings in AluGOLD.

Acoustic cladding

Precast concrete balconies are suspended from The Robin's white tower, says Nipius. "To meet the noise requirements in this project, we provide the undersides of the balconies on the noise-exposed side with acoustic insulation material and perforated aluminum sheeting. Upon arrival at the construction site, the precast balconies are placed on an auxiliary structure so that our fitters can install the insulation and two powder-coated sheets for each balcony. Then the balconies are lifted by crane and attached to the facade at the appropriate locations."

Business card

Aldowa is a specialist in the engineering, production and assembly of metal cladding. From aluminum, stainless steel, SV steel, Corten steel and prepainted aluminum and steel to expanded metal and bond material. "Every project is customized," Nipius emphasizes. "To provide the best possible interpretation of this, we like to sit down with the architect and client as early as possible. For example, to translate their aesthetic wishes into a (financially) feasible and makeable design. As an organization we can handle complex projects without any problems. Residential building The Robin is a new and telling proof of this."