Amsterdam NL 52° 23' 13.2196", 4° 54' 1.9073"

Overhoeks Binnentuinen

(Roof)gardens in new Amsterdam-Noord connect buildings and surroundings. 

LANDLAB OEVERHOEK courtyard garden yellow from above_photo by Jeroen Bosch
Location:
Amsterdam NL
Client:
ING, IJmere
Category:
Roof Gardens
Theme:
playgrounds, urban transformation
Team:
Geurst & Schulze architecten
Size:
1-5ha
Year:
2005 - 2011
Type:
realised

Kids take off their shoes, step into the sand and jump from rock to rock. Beach vibes, picnic scenery, total relaxation. But not only the thematic courtyard gardens create the landscape setting of this new urban quarter. The edges of the tall and compact housing blocks connect the buildings and their courtyards like a green fabric. Patio’s, gardens, entrances and parking garages accesses become one green plinth.

The entire neighbourhood is built on top of parking garage. The urban plan is based on the American Campus model. The housing blocks of Geurts & Schulze architects are omnidirectional and clustered around courtyards. The oval shaped planters with seating edges offer ample possibilities: they structure the routing, subdivide the spaces for different users and creates graphic identity from above. The ‘bite’ taken from the planter’s edge offers room to play freely.

LANDLAB OEVERHOEK courtyard garden yellow
LANDLAB OEVERHOEK courtyard garden playground spider
LANDLAB OEVERHOEK courtyard garden playground girls_photo by Anne ten Ham
LANDLAB OEVERHOEK courtyard garden boulder play
LANDLAB OEVERHOEK courtyard garden planter edge
LANDLAB OEVERHOEK courtyard garden purple
LANDLAB OEVERHOEK courtyard garden green planter

Courtyard as truly shared green space?