intervention strategies for renovation of social housing estates

A Dutch case study. The Bijlmermeer, Amsterdam Zuidoost. Chapter 5
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The first interesting physical solutions were applied in the late ‘90s in the Hoogoord and
Hofgeest block by Verheijen Verkoren Knappers architecten. The first was nominated by the
National Renovation Prize (NRP) in 1999 and is still a good example of renovation. In this
case, storage spaces at the bottom of the buildings have been converted into maisonettes
with a front door on street level and a private garden on the back. Social safety nearby the
high-rise substantially improved after this sort of ‘privatization’ of the bottom. Mutual social
control, higher safety, neighbourhood relationships and bringing life back in the streets, were
the results.
Without aiming at providing a complete list of all the projects realized in the neighbourhood,
it can be interesting mentioning some of them. In the list below eleven projects are
mentioned. Pictures showing the key elements are collected in the following table.
1) Hoogoord by Verheijen Verkoren Knappers architecten (nominated NRP 1997);
2) Hofgeest by Verheijen Verkoren Knappers architecten (1999);
3) Gravenstein XXAcrchitecten
4) Gooioord by Bruins Soedjono Architekten (2001) (submitted NRP 2003);
5) Hogevecht (submitted NRP 2005);
6) Kruitberg by KOVOS Architecten en Ingenieursbureau (European Demonstation Project
Regen-Link, submitted NRP 2007);
7) Hakfort Huigenbos and Groeneveen by D&E (1999 and 2007);
8) Florijn Zuid by van Schagen architects
9) Frissenstein – Florena by Duinker van der Torre (2004)
10) Florijn Noord by van Schagen architects (2003)
11) Grubbehoeve by CASA architecten (under completion)
In the picture below is shown a design study for the high-rise in the D and E neighbourhood
by KOVOS architects. The project was commissioned by the housing association Patrimonium
(now Rochdale) in 2001 but the proposal remained on paper. The aim was to adapt the
existing dwellings to different housing types for different groups like artists, students and
high-income households. The solution was a second façade provided with its own bearing
structure attached to the gallery side of the block.
Ravesloot (in Bragança, 2007) argues that the aesthetic perception of especially the
entrances alone has become more important during the last years, mainly because of
increased need for social safety. This is particularly true in the Bijlmermeer where the most
visible solutions actually regard the accessibility system (entrances to the block, stairwells
and elevators).
Housing differentiation of existing units has been implemented as well, but being generally
quite expensive it is less common. Also, it requires the temporally removal of people during
the works and can be more difficult in terms of feasibility. Differentiation is realized by
converting storage spaces into dwellings and/or by additions at the bottom. As it has been
19. E
10 EXAMPLES
COMMON SOLUTIONS