mecanoo unveils a new neighborhood designed around a historic food market in amsterdam

designed around a historic market hall in amsterdam, mecanoo‘s ‘masterplan marktkwartier’ proposes a new neighborhood for families, singles, students and senior citizens alike. spanning a total area of 2,152,782 ft2 (200,000 m2), the project will provide a varied residential program of around 1700 units and aims to be completed in 2023.

masterplan marktkwartier amsterdam

all images courtesy of mecanoo

situated on a long quay bound by two canals, the existing market is undergoing a large-scale transformation. as part of this reorganization, the footprint of the food center will be halved and a large chunk of it moved to the northern end of the quay. this change will free up space on the southern half along jan van galenstraat, making room for a new green residential neighborhood: the marktkwartier.

marktweide (market meadow)

the monumental market hall will form the heart of the new residential district designed by mecanoo. the historic building will be restored to its former glory and made accessible to everyone. the hall will be the new attraction in amsterdam west and will include a hotel, a food lab for food-related knowledge sharing and restaurants.

jan van galenstraat

the starting point for the urban design is a series of well-connected public spaces, each with its own identity. the marktweide (market meadow) is the centrally located green heart and allows for different types of use for the neighborhood and for the city. it is bordered on two sides by six-story residential blocks with accents of twelve-story volumes.

woonhof west

the blocks feature a series of distinct façades, inspired by the existing buildings along jan van galenstraat, framing a view of the market hall. this central open space gives clear visibility to both the market hall and the nearby koelhuis, which features a keith haring mural. between the marktweide and the main entrance to the market hall is the second open space: the market square, which offers space for events and for the outdoor market.

site plan

on either side of the marktweide are two green residential courtyards with free-standing residential buildings or ‘palazzinos’, shielded from the surrounding city by six-story blocks. the semi-public courtyards have an open connection to the two canals. large gates and passageways connect these courtyards with the central marktweide. continuous sight lines over the water and new pedestrian and cycling bridges connect the marktkwartier with the landlust and staatsliedenkwartier residential areas across the canals.