De Kade | Amsterdam

De Kade is not about blending in – it’s about setting up relationships. A study in contrast sharpens the edge of Oostenburg’s industrial legacy while plugging straight into the life of the city.

Oostenburg, a former industrial enclave in the lee of Amsterdam’s city centre, is transformed into a lively mixed use residential district. From 1660 to 1800, the VOC shipyards were located here and at the beginning of the 20th century five Werkspoor-Stork engineering halls were built. The redevelopment builds on this history. In no fewer than six buildings, OZ works with grain, scale and use to anchor each intervention firmly in place while advancing a more circular, future-ready city. More on Oostenburg.

Hard edges, clear characters

The narrative of De Kade is one of deliberate contrast. Two neighbouring residential blocks present a confident difference in scale, rhythm, mass and material. Rather than smoothing out the site’s complexity, the design leans into it. Each volume stands its ground, yet both are unmistakably rooted in Oostenburg’s industrial DNA.
Here, our approach comes into play: reading context not as a constraint but as a set of forces to work with. The result is architecture that feels firmly embedded yet distinct. De Kade thrives on contrasts – old and new, heavy and light, introverted and extroverted – whilst entrances, pathways and public meeting places forge the whole into a social entity.

The corner block: rough and layered

The corner building acts as a three-fronted urban hinge, activating multiple edges. Its entrance is pulled into the narrow street between the hotel and the block, breathing life into a quieter stretch, whilst a meandering route connects back to the VOC quay.
At ground level, atelier dwellings engage the public realm, with a mix of housing above. Every home orients outward, engaging the street and quay with generous outdoor spaces that amplify the building’s rugged presence.
Materiality drives the expression: a brown hand-moulded brick with a green glaze creates depth and tactility. Varied bonding patterns add a crafted, almost stubborn quality. Solar panels crown the roofscape.

The small block: light and with rounded shapes

Nestled between the corner block and the renovated, open Werkspoor factory hall, the second block pushes contrast further. Smaller in scale, it responds with a bold, almost graphic identity, thanks to rounded terraces, sweeping arches spanning one or two storeys, and a crisp white cement-rendered façade.
Inside, the building continues to engage its context. A central entrance connects to hospitality space that spills into the Werkspoor hall, enabling shared use and even a terrace. Above, a central void frames views into the historic structure, drawing the industrial past into everyday residential experience. The warm, timber finish softens the transition between old and new. This small building reads as a single, clear volume, light in tone, expressive, and firmly present on the waterfront.