Project: DOK1620 Circular Neighborhood in Amsterdam

DOK1620 Five robust courtyard houses in Amsterdam’s first circular neighborhood:

Amsterdam proves that real change is possible with the redevelopment of the Buiksloterham district. This area, which once housed one of the city’s most polluting industries, is now transforming into a circular urban district for living and working. In this circular neighborhood, De Vries Construction Company from Leeuwarden built five spacious houses under the name DOK1620. For the cladding of the facades of these courtyard houses, WE Architects chose various sustainable solutions.

‘Initially, due to the desired massive character, we had the idea to make the facade of one of the houses out of concrete. Because this option was less obvious from a sustainability perspective, we decided to look for an alternative. We found that in Holonite.’ Holonite consists of a high-quality composite mixture in which various stone-related fillers are mixed with a binder. The smooth and waterproof surface finish guarantees a natural and chic appearance of the product. ‘This product is more sustainable, can be designed lighter, and in terms of lifespan, partly due to the Dutch climate, is a better option than concrete facades. We consciously chose Holonite. The smooth material gives dirt and vegetation hardly any chance to adhere and it’s easy to clean. We did hesitate for a moment about the seams that come with using Holonite, but thanks to the sampling, the extensive contact with Bas van Vliet, and the evidence in references, we quickly became convinced of this application.’

Source: Architectenweb Article-original-dok1620