De Vijzel is a bold, material-driven residential block that translates Oostenburg’s industrial past into a circular, energy-neutral future.
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.
Mass and memory
De Vijzel presents a robust, composed presence, addressing both the VOC-quay and the inner garden with equal clarity. Its architecture is weighty yet precise, rooted in Oostenburg’s industrial lineage without imitation. In terms of atmosphere, there is a subtle nod to SoHo, yet the building is unmistakably tied to its Amsterdam context.
Continuous steel balconies with timber decking stretch along both façades, extending domestic life outward and mediating between private and public. A double-height plinth accommodates a gallery and workspace, while ground-floor maisonettes sit closer to the garden with sunken terraces – intimate yet connected.
Circular thinking, brought to life
Circularity is woven into the building’s DNA. The structure consists of reused and ground concrete (hence the name De Vijzel), whilst the façades are constructed from Waste-Based Bricks – in the ‘Nougat Raw’-shade. This way, 28,952 kilograms of waste is being reused in the façade. The insulated steel facades with their sleek profiles complete this industrial look. The insulation can be reused, the timber used carries the FSC label, The building operates at net-zero energy level, supported by PV panels and water and heat recovery systems.
Living lightly, anchored deeply
The programme includes sixteen apartments, three maisonettes and a penthouse, all designed for daylight and spatial generosity. De Vijzel embraces a soft city approach: open edges, active thresholds and façades that engage with public life. It distils the logic of making and reuse into a confident, contemporary urban form.
PROJECT DATA
Client:
VORM Ontwikkeling BV
Program:
21 apartments, ranging
from 48 m2 up to 100 m2
Status:
Completion 2022
In collaboration with:
Hillen & Roosen, FRONT
Team:
Ewout de Jager, Malgorzata Kowalczak,
Heleen Reedijk, Alice Shead,
Cristina de Talavera Gawronska,
Liwen Zhang, Chris Zwiers
Photography:
Valentijn Kortekaas
