During the redevelopment of the Zuiderhaven in Alkmaar, the existing commercial funcions will disappear and replaced by a mixed living-working area. The new building blocks are sized and scaled to match the historically structure of the existing commercial buildings. Distincitve ensembles jointly present themselves as a diverse silhouette by the canal and provide the experience of the canal deep into the plan area.
We have designed two sturdy blocks with a lively plinth and brick as the basic material. The blocks form an ensemble that is cleary related to each other, but is unclear in detail. The architecture of the ensemble gives shape to the human and scale. Setbacks in the structure, terraces and balconies are a evident part of the volume.
The brick grid structure gives articulation to the façade wall. Concrete balconies and eaves provide horizontal articulation and concrete accents around entrances reflect the industrial history of the plan area. The ensemble is surrounded by greenery, where the greenery reaches the façade and becomes part of the built structure.
