Architecten

Contact: The project is located in Almere, in the De Marken district, a characteristic Bloemkoolwijk (Cauliflower Neighborhood) that is currently undergoing transformation. Within this densification process, apartment buildings are being realized alongside the existing ground-based residential environment. Our design is based on a careful analysis of the neighborhood, examining both the strengths and the weaker aspects of the Bloemkoolwijk. With this project, we consciously build upon the DNA of the area, translating its original urban and social qualities into a contemporary residential building. An important characteristic of the existing neighborhood is the clear and fine-grained layering between public, collective, and private space. The collective courtyards found throughout the district are reinterpreted in this building as a large collective interior space. The plinth accommodates commercial spaces that contribute to vitality and mixed use, with a generous two-level car and bicycle parking facility located behind them and carefully screened from view. The building opens toward the new square and the pedestrian route to the shopping area, positioning itself as an active link within the neighborhood structure. The architecture is executed in brickwork and is characterized by rounded corners and a strong, recognizable identity. A generous entrance with a transparent stairwell forms the heart of the building; the large glass façades ensure social safety and create an inviting atmosphere. In the evening, the entrance functions as a lantern within the neighborhood. Via the stairwell, residents and visitors arrive in an impressive collective indoor garden that evokes a sense of coming home. Inspired by the spatial layering of the Bloemkoolwijk, a subtle interplay is created here as well between private places, collective zones, and private outdoor spaces along the indoor garden. The result is a residential building that is deeply ...