MVRDV will transform streets of amsterdam with green 'de oosterlingen' block

with a newly designed lineup of seven residential buildings, MVRDV will introduce its ‘de oosterlingen’ block in amsterdam. the assemblage of sustainable projects will combine housing and retail programming to mark a new entrance to the city’s oostenburg island, a formerly industrial area which is quickly developing into a vibrant residential district. while the buildings are organized with a ‘barcode’ composition to form a clear family, each expresses its own character with varying heights, roof shapes, and façades made of wood, glass, recycled brick, or biobased composite. construction of the project is expected to begin in late 2022. 

images © proloog

MVRDV will build its ‘de oosterlingen’ at the entrance to amsterdam’s oostenburg island, alongside the neighborhood square. real estate developer being and the amsterdam housing corporation stadgenoot envision a green, people- focused street. the team at MVRDV designed the seven adjoining buildings, each with its own living style organized around a collective space and rooftop, and its own contribution to greening the city. at one end is ‘the greenhouse’ and then, in order, are ‘the beekeeper,’ ‘the lump’, ‘the garden,’ ‘the house,’ ‘the rock,’ and ‘the birdhouse.’

images © proloog

together, MVRDV’s seven ‘de oosterlingen’ buildings comprise a green lab, or green expo. the buildings are stepped, with terraces leading up from the lowest buildings to the tower at one end. the roofs of the lower buildings will be activated with gardens, an apple orchard, urban farming, or a rooftop forest. in addition to these ‘low-tech’ solutions which help generate very low emissions, there are also numerous practical interventions to achieve a holistic sustainable vision.

images © proloog

emulating the historic warehouses of amsterdam’s oostenburg island, a number of the façades open up by means of folding shutters and canopies. similarly, balconies and other features appear as if they have been created by ‘folding’ the building’s skin. the folding, sliding and hinging create a lively palette of facades, each notably different from the others yet still related. in addition to their solar and thermal quality, the shutters, canopies, and sliding doors also offer privacy to residents — they can open and close the façade as they please.

images © MVRDV

MVRDV founding partner winy maas comments: ‘it will be a green complex that, in my view, is not only good for people but also for birds and insects. one building will be made of rammed earth, an ancient and sustainable building method; another will have a completely green facade. nesting boxes for house sparrows, swifts and bats will also be integrated into various façades. they create a cute street in the best amsterdam tradition, but much greener.’

images © MVRDV

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project info:

project title: de oosterlingen

architecture: MVRDV

location: oostenburg, amsterdam

client: being development

landscape architecture: DELVA landscape architecture/urbanism

founding partner in charge: winy maas

partner: stefan de koning

design team: winy maas, stefan de koning, ronald hoogeveen, karin houwen, floris dreesmann, jasper van der ven, josé manuel garcia garcia, katarzyna nowak, mariya gyaurova, olly veugelers, helena kajszczak; magdalena dzambo; luca coca, francesco vitale, jaroslaw jeda

completion: 2021

visualizations: antonio luca coco, francesco vitale, jaroslaw jeda, © proloog, © MVRDV

project coordination: carla sitarenios

strategy and development: magdalena dzambo

environmental psychologist: de omgevingspsycholoog

contractor: IMD raadgevende ingenieurs

installation technical advisor: arup

building physics: DGMR

building costs advisor: IGG bouweconomie