Sluishuis

The City of Amsterdam has selected a team led by VORM/BESIX to develop the iconic Sluishuis in IJburg Steigereiland, an emerging urban district in the Dutch capital. The four finalists of the two-phase competition have been refining their designs since April 2016. The winning proposal, designed by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group and Barcode Architects, was announced today. Sluishuis will be the centerpiece of the IJburg neighborhood, offering 380 zero-energy residences, approximately 4.000 m2 of commercial and common areas, 240 underground parking spaces, and a comprehensive water-quality program with space for up to 30 houseboats.

Located between the dense city and the vast landscapes on the edge of Amsterdam, the new Sluishuis is shaped by its complex surroundings, at once close to large infrastructure and to small-scale urban settlements. The classical courtyard building is revitalized by two transformations; it fully embraces the idea of living on the water and appears different from every vantage point. Toward the water the block is lifted up, forming a large opening that brings water from the IJ Lake into the courtyard and brings daylight and views to the complex’s inner apartments. Toward the neighboring urban district the block steps down like a cascade of landscaped terraces, creating a natural transition from cityscape to smaller-scale, natural surroundings.