As the project was a new build, I chose to display contemporary materials within the historic framework. Therefore, I selected steel, wire-cut-brick and zinc as the main materials providing a new interpretation of CONTEMPORARY AMSTERDAM. 

The most challenging part of the engineering of this design was the request to keep the existing floor construction of the former building. The steel stability construction in combination with the wooden floor beams had to be topped up to provide two new levels as the former building was only a two-level building. This resulted in different heights within the floor levels.

I wanted the facade to maintain the historical layering and minimise displaying its modification.

This is shown in detail 8, the existing floor, and in detail 6, the new floor, highlighting the differences in floor thickness. 

A rarity in Amsterdam centre is the possibility to rent a two-bedroom apartment with the latest standards. The relatively big size (in Amsterdam standards) of 54m2 per apartment provided the chance to design a small family apartment, highly desired by the client. 

The layout of the apartment is front side living and at the back, facing a typical Amsterdam inner courtyard, sleeping quarters. This refers to the historical floorplans of apartments within Amsterdam, where the front is noisy with street life, cars and bikes and the back is quiet alternating with the sounds of birds.

Both front and back can be enjoyed by opening the steel doors in the middle, at the front a French balcony and at the back, a 5m2 balcony.