De Raden atrium building

From an urban development point of view, the building is part of an ensemble comprising a tower, a hook and an atrium. The ensemble forms a new entrance to the neighbourhood as it were, in keeping with the urban development principle designed in the “de Nijl” plan. The total programme comprises 155 owner occupied apartments and 55 rented apartments. A semi-sunken plinth offers room for a 100 car underground car park.
A number of measures were proposed in order to reinforce the entrance idea. The route for the pedestrians is emphasised by extending the footpath from the neighbourhood park to the Meppelweg. The ensemble has a formal facade on the side of the neighbourhood park and an informal facade on the Meppelweg side. Informal means that a number of private elements are subtly visible in this facade, so that it "opens up" to the visitor. The parking plinth reinforces the informal nature of the entrance side, in its role as intermediary between public and private.
The atrium building on the Meppelweg was designed as housing for senior citizens. In general terms, the programme comprises 55 apartments, two guest apartments, a collective "living room" and storage rooms, all designed around an atrium in 6 storeys. The apartments were designed as a three room house with a loggia as exterior space. They are all accessed from the central atrium by means of a gallery. The atrium was conceived as a closed area, which extends one storey in relation to the apartments. The top edge was worked out completely in glass, in order to ensure plenty of daylight but without the sun having too much effect on the temperature in this area.
The entrance was designed as a bridge over the water. Thanks to the transparent character of the common areas on the ground floor, the building opens up naturally to visitors.
The facade materials are mainly brick, wooden door and window frames and glass.