Robust eye-catcher in a beautiful waterfront spot

Developed by Heilijgers, LATEI and INIX projects, together with Jan Poolen of ZEEP Architects and Urban Designers, the project consists of two separate buildings with a shared first floor. The facade combines glass in the plinth with light stone on the outside of the apartment complex and wood on the courtyard side. Work began in November 2018 and the apartments were recently completed.

A large industrial area developed along the Eem in the late 19th century, but when it disappeared in the early 1980s, space was freed up for new development. The city quietly advanced along the banks of the Eem and toward the new Eemplein. In addition to prominent buildings such as the Eemhuis and Dara, Heilijgers now built the Eemerald as a link between the square, the old historic city and The New City. This new complex consists of two separate volumes with a shared first floor and underneath a parking garage with two car elevators.

Own size and shape

"On the first floor, there is space for hospitality on the waterfront and stores or leisure on the square. The two six-story volumes comprise 36 apartments and two penthouses, all different from each other. They have their own size and shape and the wishes of the buyers were also taken into account. On the second floor they are rather modest, but on the fifth floor they have an area of 150 m², including one or even two balconies overlooking the Eem and old town," explains architect Jan Poolen. "While the plinth, 9 meters high, is made entirely of glass, the volumes above are built from light gray bricks on the outside. The volume was deliberately cut open to allow light and visibility into the heart of the block. An interior garden has been created here. The undulating facade on the side of the courtyard is clad in wood. The two volumes have stepped facades, creating large roof terraces. Floor-high doors, large city windows and terraces provide views of the square, water and city. The head of the block stands on high concrete legs, which does not obstruct the view of the Eem and the historic buildings from the square."

Project with challenges

Of course, energy efficiency and sustainability were also considered. Originally, Eemerald was to be connected to the natural gas grid, but under the influence of the main contractor, a switch was made to the heat grid of Warmtebedrijf Amersfoort. "In November 2018 Heilijgers started work and recently this eye-catcher was ready," the architect concludes. "The construction did not always go smoothly. For example, contaminated soil had to be remediated and old foundation piles from a defunct grain warehouse were in the way. Furthermore, the diggers encountered a soil structure that was much more brittle than expected and a sheet pile construction was needed. Thanks to smooth communication and good cooperation between all construction partners, this project was still able to be completed on schedule."    

Smart solutions in the city

Van den Pol Elektrotechniek deployed its broad specialty at Eemerald, including the complete E-installation, fire alarm system, charging station preparation and cabling for the parking elevators. "There are 66 PV panels on the roofs," explains project manager Timo Joore. "And the LED lighting with sensors in the parking garage and general areas also contributes to sustainability. Lighting is on 10% by default and switches on full on only when there is movement. That produces nice savings."

Eemerald stands out for its striking architecture. "Attractive for the residents, but certainly a challenge for us. The building has many level differences. To handle the installations optimally, both careful preparation and flexibility in execution are required." The limited space on the construction site also had an impact. "Containers were stacked and because there was no room outside, the crane was placed inside the building."

Van den Pol is increasingly involved in inner-city projects such as Eemerald. "Clever solutions like the crane ensure that we can still get out just fine," he says. It helps that Heilijgers and Van den Pol are trusted partners. "We know each other's way of working and half a word is enough. That's why I'm looking forward to the next joint project: the Lichtpen in Amersfoort with 98 apartments."