Text description provided by the architects. A large-scale urban renewal project is in progress in the Reimerswaalbuurt in Osdorp, a neighborhood situated at the periphery of Amsterdam. The ambitious plan was made under the supervision of the Architecten Cie. Nine building complexes will be realized with broad streets and auto-free squares. Mecanoo designed the first complex which includes a school, sports hall, pre-school playrooms, a children’s day-care center, a community center, 51 apartments and 21 single family homes. The neighborhood will be enriched with good social housing situated in a network of pleasant and safe streets, squares and public green space with gathering places to socialize in. The result of the fruitful cooperation between the developer Ymere, the school board, design studio Makkink & Bey and artist Elspeth Pikaar is a richly detailed social housing and multi-functional education complex. Mecanoo’s design example will set the stage for the other eight residential complexes.
