Zuidkade Scheveningen
The Zuidkade project is part of the area development DE ZUID by VORM and MRP and is located at the third harbor of Scheveningen. The characteristic atmosphere of the harbor, the nearby dunes, and the sea view were the main inspirations for the design of this project, which combines apartments with commercial spaces on the ground floor.
Design: collaboration between two firms
The façade of Zuidkade was designed by two architecture firms. LEVS architecten designed the corner block with a strong concrete overhang. Zecc Architecten designed the brick building with angled bay windows. Through coordination between the two, a cohesive whole was created, while both firms maintained their own style.
The rugged character of the harbor is reflected in the corner block by LEVS, through the use of concrete and bold color choices. Zecc refers more subtly to the surroundings, with rounded concrete portals on the ground floor and sand-colored brickwork that matches the colors of the dunes and the beach. From the building, you can walk straight onto the beach or into the dunes.
Zecc’s design is sculptural in form. The façade includes recessed entrances, setback roof terraces for the penthouses, and protruding bay windows angled toward the evening sun. These offer views of the dunes and the beach. The bay windows are placed separately on the façade and feature rounded corners inspired by waves and sand patterns created by the wind.
The brick bay windows with two slanted surfaces give the apartments a dual orientation: towards the small-scale Third Harbor and the larger Outer Harbor. This strengthens the relationship with the quay and encourages social interaction. Thanks to large, fully openable glass doors, sunlight enters the homes late at night, creating an optimal experience of the water.
Living, orientation, and quality of life
On the ground floor, commercial spaces alternate with the three entrances to the apartment buildings. Behind these commercial spaces, parking is provided under a deck, above which the first-floor apartments have spacious terraces. This deck is publicly accessible via a staircase from the quay and connects the street to the raised inner area.
The inner area is small-scale, low-traffic, and faces south. The gardens of the ground-level homes and the terraces of the apartments contribute to a green and sheltered living environment. The façades here respond to the smaller scale with vertical lines. Combined with the continued brick tones from the quay façade, this creates a layered look that visually reduces the building volume. Soft design elements are also used, such as rounded large balconies.
Each floor has two apartments per core. All homes have dual orientation: a south-facing façade and a north-facing one with views of the harbor and the sea. Most apartments range in size from 100 to 150 m² and have an I-, L-, or U-shape around the core. The top floor contains three spacious penthouses of 225 m², each with a large roof terrace on both sides.
