Amsterdam Tower

The Buitenveldert neighborhood was conceived as part of the 1934 Algemeen Uitbreidingsplan (General Expansion Plan), which grew the city outward to the west and south to address one of several housing crises throughout Amsterdam’s history. Informed by the garden city movement at the turn of the twentieth century, Buitenveldert was developed in the late 1950s—one of the last garden cities to be constructed post-World War II. Accented by open green space, the neighborhood’s planned communities of mid- and low-rise buildings are a reflection of their time, with taut concrete volumes and highly rational facade grids recalling the ideals of the era.

The design of both structures plays off the standard facade grids of the surrounding post-war buildings, morphing the geometry to improve residents’ experience. By modifying the rectilinearity of the corners of the structure, the facade expands views, creating visual connections across the building. The project’s ambitious environmental performance is achieved through a planted roof, photovoltaic panels, thermal storage, and energy-efficient envelopes, while urban connectivity is performed at the base of the structures. The buildings offer a mix of retail, dining, and public amenities connected by a public plaza designed by Piet Oudolf with Deltavormgroep. The architecture and the landscape work together to create a human-scaled environment for pedestrians and new urban pathways through the block that strengthen connections and reinforce important axes.