The realization of residential building Meranti

A beautiful piece of Timber Harbor

Hillen & Roosen is working on a special project in Amsterdam's Houthaven: residential building Meranti. This social housing complex is being built on behalf of housing corporation Lieven de Key and promises to be an impressive addition to the skyline of the Houthaven. Under the leadership of René Schaatsbergen, project manager at Hillen & Roosen, the team is working hard to deliver this project on time and to the satisfaction of all parties involved.

Schaatsbergen has now been with Hillen & Roosen for four years and, due to his years of experience in construction, is not unfamiliar with large projects. "I have done projects in the Houthaven for Hillen & Roosen before, so when the opportunity came to work on Meranti, it was a logical choice," he says. Hillen & Roosen is part of the Hemubo Group and has focused on new real estate construction for more than 120 years. The company has built a strong reputation in the construction industry, focusing on complex inner-city assignments, architecturally interesting designs and high-profile projects. Meranti at Houthaven certainly belongs in that list.

The collaboration with Lieven de Key began in 2017, when Hillen & Roosen was commissioned to realize several projects in the Houthaven. Plot 7B, named Meranti, is the latest part of this development. Nice detail: all the buildings in Houthaven are named after types of wood. For example, the previously completed residential buildings were named Afzelia, Larch and Mahogany. Meranti, named after the tropical wood species of the same name, concludes this series with 80 apartments, including four wheelchair accessible apartments, offering a combination of two- and three-room homes for various target groups.

A challenging project

What makes Meranti unique is the combination of its location and undulating architecture. The building is in the water on three sides, making the construction of a watertight basement one of the biggest challenges. "We had to build temporary sheet pile walls to make the work watertight. It was a complicated process, but the total team, from preparation to execution, worked hard to meet this challenge," Schaatsbergen said. In addition to the basement, the Meranti facades are also an engineering feat. The building will have facades with corrugations and rounded frames; a design that is anything but standard. "The shape of the facades makes it a visually appealing building. We use aluminum shingles to follow the curves, and you can also see that in the balconies. This gives the building a nice, luxurious look."

Lean building for efficiency

An important aspect of Hillen & Roosen's approach is the application of the lean construction method. "By working closely with all parties and subcontractors involved, we ensure that there are no discussions about planning or work," Schaatsbergen says. "This way everyone knows exactly what needs to be done when, and that prevents delays and miscommunication."

Completion of Meranti is scheduled for early 2026, but the team hopes to bring it forward to early December 2025. "An ambitious goal," Schaatsbergen stresses. "But I am confident of a successful completion."

Proud of the result

Although the project is still in full swing, he already exudes pride. "Meranti is a building with a luxurious feel, despite being social housing. It fits perfectly into its surroundings, where you see the Pontsteiger and other luxury apartments. The realization of social housing with an allure of more expensive condominiums that blend seamlessly with the surroundings makes this project special!" In addition, Meranti also means a lot to the Houthaven. The project contributes to the diversity of the neighborhood, where luxury and affordable housing go hand in hand. "We want to create a building that not only we, but also the residents and client Lieven de Key can be proud of," says Schaatsbergen. "When everything is finished soon, this will be a beautiful piece of Houthaven. And that's what it's all about!"