For years, Stadionplein in Amsterdam was best known as a boarding point for holiday buses and because of the Febo on the square. Once conceived as a temporary parking space for the 1928 Olympic Games, the square was never really finished; nor did it when the Amstelveenseweg was connected to the Amsterdam ring road, effectively making the square an entrance to the city.
Based on the urban master plan that Floris Alkemade / OMA drew up in close consultation with local residents, the square has been redesigned by West 8. Two buildings, a residential building with a mixed program and a hotel, branch on the block structure devised by Berlage. This also enhances the experience of one of the most beautiful and surely the longest urban sightline in Amsterdam, running from the Olympic Stadion with its Marathon Tower, across the Stadionplein, towards the Van Tuyll van Serooskerken Park and onwards. Within the volume determined by the urban development plan, the residential Noordblok establishes a link between the more traditional buildings on the east side and the modernist Citroën garage on the west side.
The transparent plinth houses shops and restaurants on the south and west side. On the north side there is, in addition to shops and the returned Febo, also room for social facilities. The plinth is two layers high here, to emphasize the northern axis of the Amstelveenseweg. The basement houses a large supermarket next to a public parking garage. One level lower, storage and parking facilities for residents can be found.
The design of the facades fully reflect the existing surroundings. In line with the impressive sculptural quality of facades in Amsterdam Zuid, balconies are designed as integrated style elements, together with the articulated brick facade. The east facade deviates from this. The tough character of the outside is emphasized by the large opening that offers a view of the raised courtyard. The main entrance for residents is located in the plinth. The joint entrance for social and free sector rental homes leads over a spacious staircase to the green collective inner garden, in line with the tradition of Berlages Plan Zuid. Where the outside of the building is tough and bold, the courtyard has a warm, wooden appearance. All apartments have balconies on both the front and rear. Just like in the old part of Plan Zuid, this inner area is determined by continuous series of balconies. The staggered galleries contribute to daylight entry and offer intimacy to the home entrances.
