Strengthening AUP in Amsterdam Nieuw-West
On the plot of an outdated office building and opposite one of the iconic AUP apartment buildings stands The Ox. This apartment building, which is the first part of a large city block, contains nearly 170 apartments, with over three-quarters designated for the mid-priced rental sector.
Connecting to the urban plan
To the north of the location on Osdorper Ban, a series of very large city blocks were built between 2005 and 2009, deviating from the open grid structure of the AUP. The Ox aligns with this urban planning but integrates architecturally into the visual quality of the AUP.
Diverse housing programme
The Ox includes a large number of two-room apartments of approximately 60 m², accessed via a central corridor. The stairwells are located at the ends, surrounded by three-room apartments of around 75 m². On the ground floor, the larger units are in the form of maisonettes and "friends" apartments, accessible from the street and equipped with private gardens.
Transitions to public spaces
The transitions to the public spaces are carefully designed with low garden walls, with hedges behind them. This creates a lively street frontage. The spacious inner courtyard, of a very large size, will be filled with terraces and blooming plant zones, creating a semi-public atmosphere.
Facade concept and materials
The volume steps down from nine floors on Osdorper Ban to six floors on the Osdorpergracht side. The architecture of the building is characterized by a square concrete grid with various infills, referencing the context of post-war housing. The prefab concrete facade of the ground floor and the first floor of the north facade connects well with the street-level treatment of the blocks across Osdorper Ban. The entrance to the garage is integrated on this side of the block.
End facades and future passages
The end (waiting) facades are a logical consequence of the choice for city blocks that are developed in phases. The permanent facades are already provided with windows and the grid is extended over the waiting section. Within this grid, masonry will be used for the future passages, and the other sections will be temporarily filled with greenery.
