In Amsterdam Nieuw-West,  FARO Architecten and Van Bergen Architectura completed Cornelis: a residential project that combines housing with childcare, hospitality, atelier spaces and a range of communal facilities. The project—which was developed by BuildingforLife, Prosper Vitae and Heutink Groep—comprises 85 south-facing owner-occupied apartments that range from 60 to 170 square meters, with eleven floors above ground and two floors housing parking below.

The legacy of Cornelis van Eesteren
The project takes its name from Cornelis van Eesteren, the famed architect and planner who—along with Piet Mondrian—was part of the De Stijl movement and who saw urban design as the organisation of relationships rather than a composition of buildings. His influence can be seen prominently in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, which was shaped by his Algemeen Uitbreidingsplan (AUP) and its emphasis on light, air and space. The resulting Western Garden Cities replaced the enclosed urban blocks of the historic city with open arrangements of housing, green spaces, walkways and amenities. Cornelis draws from this legacy, reinterpreting its principles at the scale of a residential block.

Movement as play
In Cornelis, conventional corridors are replaced by circulation routes designed for socialising and play. Inspired by the “strip developments” that Van Eesteren was famed for, the building features a double width wooden hallway that runs through it, acting as a social artery. In addition to this broad internal walkway, there are galleries and communal rooms, stairwells with slides for moving around the building, and a stepped rooftop garden that shows how the building's shared spaces are places for play.

Environmental strategy
The project's environmental strategy combines water management and biodiverse planting with passive design, durable materials and a sense of social sustainability. On the rooftop, Dijk & Co. designed a 170-square-metre communal garden that features flowering plants, grasses and native species, and which—in addition to its residential visitors—is populated by insect hotels alongside bird and bat boxes. Here, rainwater is channeled through vertical connections and is then stored and used to irrigate the garden. 

Materials
The building combines a robust masonry exterior with a timber circulation system, CLT structural system, and carefully selected natural stone. The facade is constructed from a grey-green facing brick that was developed for the project by DEPPE Backstein-Keramik. The custom-colour was chosen to distinguish the building from the surrounding buildings in the area, while still relating to the neighbourhood's predominantly brick architecture. 

Interior
Inside, natural materials give the space a warm and welcoming feeling. The entry hall, paving and plinths are completed in green Dolomite stone, while the central circulation route and galleries use different types of wood depending on the structural and practical requirements of the location. Azobé was used for the beams supporting the galleries, bamboo was used for elements around the entrances and corridors, and oak was used for internal stairs and handrails. The structure itself is CLT and the corridors have timber flooring, making wood perhaps the driving architectural expression in this project.