Pieter Vlamingstraat, Amsterdam

A building that doesn't shy away from its unfortunate location on a sharp corner. A building that integrates into its surroundings without imitation, that feels natural without being arrogant — one might even say it expresses a sense of uncertainty. The contrast between the two streets flanking the sharp corner forms the starting point for the entire design. The two building volumes lean on one another, are mutually dependent, yet each has its own distinct character:

One is heavy, dark, and stern — fitting the busy, traffic-laden street; the other is light, glassy, and diffuse — belonging to the quieter residential street lined with large plane trees.

The project consists of experimental housing. Building in the Dapperbuurt means building for a wide variety of lifestyles — from single home workers to large families with children. To accommodate these differences, a flexible floor plan was developed. The homes feature what is known as an open layout, with a beam on four columns cutting through the space. Each resident was given the option to have one or two partition walls installed beneath the beam by the housing association (Lieven de Key), allowing them to create additional rooms as needed.


Architect: Liesbeth van der Pol
Team: M. Lette, E. Wiersma, Q. Huber, C. Jonge Poerink, P. Wienberg
Number: 8901
Status: Built
Year: 1989 - 1991
Client: Woningstichting Lieven De Key