Start construction of social housing of new construction project De Eenhoorn phase 2 in Amsterdam East

Compact apartments with Finnish design provide smart living arrangement

Construction of phase 2 of new construction project The Unicorn at the Rudolf Dieselstraat in Amsterdam East has started. Hieke Bakker, development manager at housing corporation Ymere, together with district administrator Ivar Manuel on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, the official starting signal for the start of construction of phase 2 of the building project. At De Eenhoorn, 124 ground-floor apartments are to make way for 330 apartments inspired by a Finnish design. Phase 1 which will include 149 apartments is already under construction. Phase 2 will add 181 apartments. TBI company ERA Contour is responsible for the construction of the apartments and is supervising the demolition of the current rental housing. The design of phase 1 is by Korth-Thielens Architects. Heren 5 Architecten is responsible for the design of the apartments of phase 2.

Hieke Bakker, development manager at Ymere gives the official starting signal for the start of construction of phase 2 of new construction project De Eenhoorn.

According to Director of Portfolio Renewal at Ymere, Viviane Regout, her corporation deliberately chose compact housing on that site. There were 124 homes there. Ymere is building back 330 social housing units. These are (starter) apartments of 33, 45 and 60 m². A number of apartments of 87 m² with three bedrooms. A changing composition of the population requires a different type of housing, according to Regout. "In Amsterdam, there is a great need for housing for starters and smaller one- and two-person households," Regout said.

"We are thrilled to be working with Ymere to renew this neighborhood. The start of construction of phase 2 of De Eenhoorn is another beautiful milestone in the new construction project and the new look of the Rudolf Dieselstraat is thus taking more and more shape," said Jeroen Heijdra, director at ERA Contour.

Artist impression project The Unicorn Phase 1. © Korth Tielens Architects.

Smart living arrangement 

The apartments in The Unicorn have a compact size and range from 32 to over 80 square meters. The compact housing allows more house seekers to be happy with the key to their new home. Moreover, the number of available square meters is optimally utilized through a smart residential layout. For example, there are common areas and shared facilities in the apartment complex. Think of a shared central hall, laundry rooms and courtyard gardens. These spaces not only provide more security, but also more connection between residents. Thus, neighbors get to know each other more easily. The shared spaces also ensure that the living space has the same conveniences as a larger home. The future residents will also soon be able to enjoy a bright living space thanks to the large windows in The Unicorn.

Completion in spring 2021

Completion of the first homes of The Unicorn Phase 2 is expected in spring 2021.More information about the project can be found at www.ymere.nl/eenhoorn.