A sculptural waterfront residential building rooted in the Amsterdam School tradition
Located at the tip of Karlskrona Island in Amsterdam’s Houthaven district, De Sfinx forms a powerful architectural conclusion to a new urban ensemble. Designed by Hoogeveen Architecten for Ymere, the project adds 63 social housing apartments to a neighbourhood where water, urban life and architecture are in constant dialogue.
The ensemble is based on the urban design by Sjoerd Soeters. Within this context, De Sfinx has been given a distinctive identity of its own: a bold red-brick volume positioned both alongside and within the water, characterised by rounded forms, sculptural façades and richly detailed brickwork that makes explicit reference to the Amsterdam School.
For Koen and Arjen Hoogeveen of Hoogeveen Architecten, the challenge was not simply to design a residential building, but above all to create a place. A building that responds to the scale of the Houthaven, to the neighbouring Spaarndammerbuurt and to Amsterdam’s rich tradition of brick architecture. De Sfinx is therefore not conceived as an isolated object, but as part of a carefully composed urban ensemble.
From Kraaipanschool to De Sfinx
De Sfinx has a clear affinity with an earlier Hoogeveen Architecten project: the Kraaipanschool in Amsterdam, likewise commissioned by Ymere. This acclaimed project, through which the practice gained experience in developing a contemporary interpretation of the Amsterdam School, provided an important conceptual foundation for De Sfinx.
The knowledge and experience gained from the Kraaipanschool were further developed in the design of De Sfinx. Rather than literally repeating its architectural language, the architects applied the same design philosophy: respect for Amsterdam’s building traditions, attention to craftsmanship and detailing, and a contemporary interpretation of brick architecture.
Where the Kraaipanschool demonstrated how old and new architecture can be brought together, De Sfinx establishes an even stronger relationship with its surroundings. Here, the influence of the Amsterdam School is expressed not only through its detailing, but also in the pronounced curves, the sculptural massing and the way the building opens towards the water.
An ensemble with Meranti
A distinctive aspect of the brief was De Sfinx’s location next to Meranti, the residential building designed by FARO Architecten. Although the two architectural practices were responsible for separate buildings, there was a clear ambition to create coherence between them. De Sfinx and Meranti were not intended to become isolated objects, but two buildings that reinforce one another within the overall urban plan.
A number of architectural elements were therefore carefully coordinated. The red-brick exteriors, white accents and flowing horizontal lines act as recurring family traits across both buildings. The architects compare the composition to an apple with a bite taken out of it: red on the outside, light and fresh on the inside. The white accent bricks create a playful linear pattern, which the architects themselves describe as a kind of strawberry pattern.
The result is a recognisable ensemble that feels robust, refined and unmistakably Amsterdam in character. Each building retains its own identity, while establishing a deliberate relationship with the other — and with the city — through materiality, detailing and rhythm.
Curved forms as a response to the brief
One of the principal design constraints was that projecting balconies were not permitted. This restriction made the flowing, organic architectural language associated with the Amsterdam School particularly relevant. The red curves became a defining element of the design, giving De Sfinx its distinctive waterfront presence.
The organic, sculptural forms are not merely visual gestures; they also shape the apartment layouts. This creates unexpected and characterful living spaces in which the relationship with the surroundings remains constantly perceptible. The façade has been designed to maximise views and a sense of spaciousness from within the apartments.
The undulating brickwork allows residents to maintain a visual connection with the water alongside the windows. Window openings have been carefully positioned, while the tall windows enhance the panoramic views. In this way, De Sfinx appears to embrace the water: not through projecting balconies, but through a façade that moves, curves and guides the view.
Upper level, lower level and a waterside garden
The relationship with the water also plays an important role in the design of the square, gateway and courtyard. Changes in level and the organisation of the residential floors create a subtle spatial layering, with an upper and a lower realm. Passing through the gateway into the building creates not only a transition from the city to the courtyard, but also a framed view towards the water.
The communal waterside garden is an important part of this composition. It provides residents with a shared outdoor space that is directly connected to its surroundings. As a result, the courtyard is not conceived as an enclosed inner court, but as a spatial link between the building, garden, square and water.
Brickwork as a fundamental design principle
At De Sfinx, brickwork is far more than a façade finish. It is an architectural medium used to shape form, rhythm and identity. The principles of the design have been carried through to the smallest details. Horizontal lines, block bonding patterns, white accents and flowing curves combine to create a clear and carefully composed façade rhythm.
One particularly distinctive feature is the double-course termination at the top of the building, incorporating characteristic serrated detailing. This treatment adds further relief to the façade and reinforces the reference to the Amsterdam School. The serrated brickwork creates a clearly defined crown to the building and gives the transition between façade and roofline a richer, more expressive character.
Such detailing demands a high degree of craftsmanship. Bricklayer Deurwaarder was able to fully demonstrate its expertise on this project. The masonry incorporates curves, setbacks, bonding patterns and accents that only achieve their intended effect when design and execution are precisely aligned. Even the sample wall was constructed with an undulating profile, allowing the architectural team to assess in advance how the finished façade would perform visually.
Hoogeveen Architecten remained closely involved throughout construction. This was not simply a matter of supervision, but reflected a genuine commitment to craftsmanship. In a project such as De Sfinx, millimetres, joints, brick selection and bonding patterns all contribute to the final architectural character. Close collaboration between architect, contractor, bricklayer and supplier was therefore essential to the quality of the finished building.
Henna Bont: traditional, fresh and distinctly Amsterdam
According to the architects, the choice of facing brick was a natural one. The colour of the quay walls, with their warm Henna Bont tones, corresponded closely with the facing bricks from Rodruza’s Classic Collection. This choice visually connects De Sfinx with Amsterdam’s brick-building tradition as well as with the material character of its immediate surroundings.
The fresh appearance of Henna Bont, combined with a simple grey mortar joint, gives the building a natural and timeless character. The masonry references traditional Amsterdam brickwork, while the curved forms, white accents and expressive detailing give it a distinctly contemporary quality.
The brick therefore supports precisely what the architecture sets out to achieve: a building that is firmly rooted in history without becoming historicist. The façade has warmth, rhythm and depth, while simultaneously responding to the robust character of the Houthaven.
A distinctive final piece of the ensemble
De Sfinx forms the final architectural piece of Karlskrona Island, yet it does not feel like an ending. Rather, it completes the ensemble by bringing its surroundings together. The building connects the Houthaven with the Spaarndammerbuurt, the square with the water, and social housing with high-quality architecture.
For Hoogeveen Architecten, De Sfinx is a project in which urban design, materiality and craftsmanship reinforce one another. The red curves, sculptural massing, double-course crown, serrated detailing and warm brickwork give the building a distinctive identity and a rich spatial experience — achieved not through excess, but through consistency.
De Sfinx demonstrates how social housing can also be architecturally expressive. How a façade can provide more than shelter, offering direction, rhythm and identity. And how brick, when carefully selected and skilfully crafted, can anchor a building within the city while simultaneously connecting it to the water that surrounds it.
