Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
Next to Amsterdam-North metro station, a lively downtown area is under construction. Within the urban plan for the station square, De Nijs developed and built an elongated residential block with an inner courtyard and two corner towers for Syntrus Achmea. Plot Z4/Paddington was completed in January 2023. "A project from the book, perfectly executed both in terms of development and execution," says company manager Frank Ligthart.
A mix of about 1,000 rental and for-sale housing units will be built in the station area of North Metro Station. There will also be 2 hotels and a gym, sandwich store and exhibition space. The program of Plot Z4 consists of 163 medium-priced rental homes. From the station square, two spacious entrances lead to the apartments. The rest of the double-height plinth will be filled in with a commercial program (3 units), with a garage and bicycle storage behind it. There is indoor parking for both (electric) cars and bicycles. These facilities are realized at ground level.
The apartments range in size from 50 to 75 square meters. Through a courtyard garden on the second floor, residents have access to their homes. "Our own project development teamed up with the construction firm to DO the design," Ligthart said. "LEVS architects is the project architect, a service architect directly under our project development. Buro Bim further developed the design into TO and UO, and subcontractors such as installers were connected early. The project was fully bimmed. We as De Nijs always work according to these principles in recent years, and that works very pleasantly."
The building was founded on low-noise and low-vibration HEK combi piles, and the shell was constructed in the wall-width slab method, continues Ligt-hart. "Table formwork was used, which allowed you to make a good connection with the many precast elements, such as gable bands, balconies and galleries. The formwork table actually acted as a working platform." The materialization and layout of the volume refers to the diverse architectural characters of Amsterdam-North: from rural to modern and from Amsterdam School to contemporary high-rise buildings.
Part of the facade is finished in colored concrete, other parts in staggered masonry (predominant shades: yellow, brown and cream). "Through the use of aluminum molds, based on an idea of subsidiary company Wicon Masonry Company, the number of masonry profiles was significantly reduced, the visibility of the craftsmen was improved, and the many narrow dams in staggered masonry were smoothly executed in fixed pattern."
The homes are equipped with underfloor heating and heat exchangers, and connect to district heating systems from supplier Vattenfall. In addition, the roofs are covered with solar panels. The property no longer has a gas connection. "Of course you always have some setbacks, for example in terms of delivery times. There were also a total of 17 housing types in the program, which we delivered turnkey including kitchens and plumbing. Thanks to the tight discipline of De Nijs' working method, however, we were able to keep on schedule," says Ligthart. "This is a project by the book, perfectly executed both in terms of development and execution."
