Nieuw Waterlandplein
Nieuw Waterlandplein
Nieuw Waterlandplein
Plinth and residential tower, clear space for the store and health center
The challenge was to create a multi-faceted center that, despite the various agencies that worked on it and a wide variety of functions, is coherent and recognisable. A rhythm of reddish brown brickwork defines the face of the shopping center on the ground floor. The brickwork forms the frame around the (shop) fronts and has therefore been kept neutral in terms of color and use of materials. By using an extra thick format brick of 90 mm high, the ratio of joint to stone and thus the color intensity of the masonry is more favorable than in a traditional situation.
The horizontal steel bands on the first and second floors continue into the renovation blocks above as a connecting element. Wind tunnel research has shown that the tall towers cause wind nuisance at ground level in some places. The answer to this is the 1.8 meter deep canopies between the masonry entrances that make the transition from public space to store more pleasant for visitors. The awnings above the storefronts are made of aluminum and look solid and sleek, but they are filled with glass near the home entrances. In this way, the large natural stone butterflies designed by artist Berend Strik, which mark the entrances in the pavement, are also visible from the higher houses.
The towers do not stand on the plinth but rise from it, often as composite volumes. Artwork and base are integrated. For all towers, old and new, multicolor and horizontal lines are the starting point. Atelier PRO's residential tower houses social housing on the 3rd to 9th floors. By combining the changing density of windows and holes on the one hand and the chosen interplay of lines on the other, the tower in the end façade enters into a dialogue with the horizontally striped end facades of the renovation towers. The longitudinal facades, both on the gallery side and at the front, are a family of the other new-build towers.
The new shopping center also houses a health center. It is a broad primary care center with two general practices at its heart that serve a catchment area of approximately 10,000 people. The collaborative relationships between the general practitioners with the other primary care disciplines led to the choice of the other parties: physiotherapists, social work (Doras), mental health care, pharmacy and an Older Child Center (OKC).
The center is located on the north side of the shopping center and is spread over three layers. The layers are connected by a spacious, open staircase that runs around a loft. Because the stairs are literally obvious, using the elevator becomes less obvious and the design contributes to a healthier lifestyle before the patient is relaxed.
