On the site of the former shopping center Operaplein a residential building with tower has been constructed in the Schuilenburg neighborhood. The ground floor features a community center alongside a supermarket (Hoogvliet). The variety of housing typologies enriches the community’s housing diversity, and the redevelopment has enhanced the public space by introducing more greenery. The building is designed with sand-yellow and grey brickwork, white concrete, dark window frames, and milk glass fences. The 60 apartments will be managed by De Alliantie.

Thinking Group
From a political perspective, it was requested that the design process would involve a thinking group composed of local residents from the area surrounding the old shopping center. Concerns were raised about management issues and drug-related disturbances.

Youth and Revitalization of the Living Environment
An important factor for the thinking group in agreeing to the 60-unit project was the inclusion of youth housing in the plan, along with the idea of revitalizing the living environment. The neighborhood felt worn out and somewhat out of touch, characterized by a lack of residential diversity and issues with management and overall aesthetics.

Tower
Collaborating with the thinking group, various height and volume studies were conducted, alongside an extensive solar analysis. This led to the decision to opt for a sleeker, taller tower design, as this would minimize the shadow cast on the existing homes. Low-rise structures near the stores were designed to be as low as possible, echoing the heights of the houses across Operaweg.

Respect for Modest Architecture
The architecture of Schuilenburg reflects the typical buildings from the 1960s: generic, repetitive, and lacking in variation, with no expressive materials and bland brickwork. To ensure that the new building did not detract from the existing structures, the design aimed to connect with the surrounding environment. During the design process, consideration was given to architectural elements that would resonate with that era's context, including repetition, proportions, and softer materials, resulting in a more calm and composed style.

Green Living Environment
While this architectural style aligns with a greener living environment, Schuilenburg currently has a more urban feel, characterized by paved streets. This was paired with a comprehensive plan that included more housing and parking provisions near the supermarket. This emphasized the need for a more composed building design, while also addressing the living environment in collaboration with landscape architect Le Far West. Efforts were made to make the public space as green as possible through climate-adaptive practices, and the building features a green roof as well as façade vegetation along Ariaweg.