The site was previously occupied by an office complex owned by ING. The existing structure of one of the three office buildings could be reused during construction. MVRDV’s design splits the site into five plots, each with its own charismatic design motif, arranged in a ‘Strip’ along Haarlemmerweg – a busy western access route to Amsterdam’s city centre. This creates a diverse architectural ensemble and generates a wide variety of apartment sizes and typologies, from gallery apartments to spacious corner apartments to apartments with sizeable bay windows. The housing offer ranges from one- to three-bedroom apartments, both for sale and rent.

“Westerpark West sits on the Haarlemmertrekvaart, the canal that was once the fastest route between Amsterdam and Haarlem,” says MVRDV founding partner Nathalie de Vries. “Green spaces take pride of place all along the canal, so the old ING offices felt like an unwelcome interruption. We wanted to densify the site while greening and extending the Westerpark area. The masterplan shows how urban densification and increased liveability can go hand in hand. Some buildings cluster around garden courtyards, others cantilever outwards to preserve more space at ground level – all to provide over 900 new homes with immediate access to green and pleasant outdoor spaces. Many of the homes have features that allow their layouts to be adapted in the future.”