Team V Architecture

The August Social Housing

The August Social Housing
© Ossip van Duivenbode

THE AUGUST SOCIAL HOUSING

Team V Architecture

ARCHITECTS
Team V Architecture

LEAD TEAM
Do Janne Vermeulen

DESIGN TEAM
Anne Van Schooten

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Buro Sant En Co

ENGINEERING & CONSULTING > OTHER
Vdndp

MANUFACTURERS
Byldis, Cor Unum, Ginkel Groep , Tichelaar

ENGINEERING & CONSULTING > ELECTRICAL
Nieman Raadgevende Ingenieurs

GENERAL CONSTRUCTING
Strackee

PHOTOGRAPHS
Ossip van Duivenbode

AREA
13 m²

YEAR
2024

LOCATION
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

CATEGORY
Social Housing

English description provided by the architects.

The August is one of five social housing blocks in the new residential area Overhoeks in Amsterdam-Noord.

The challenge was to create affordable houses, aesthetically competing with the surrounding luxury residential complexes. Coming home, feeling at home, and soft surroundings were important design themes.

The August Social Housing
© Ossip van Duivenbode
The August Social Housing
© Ossip van Duivenbode

The August, like many other residential blocks in Overhoeks, has seven floors with a U-shaped floor plan.

As a counterpart to the rigid urban structure, the building design is 'softened' with rounded corners, pastel colors, and tangible finishes.

The plinth facade is covered with luxurious green glazed brick from Royal Tichelaar, while the rest of the brick facade is 'chipped' with a wafer-thin cream-white plaster layer, for a Mediterranean look.

The triangular balconies, which playfully change direction per floor, make The August expressively distinctive.

The August Social Housing
© Ossip van Duivenbode
The August Social Housing
© Ossip van Duivenbode
The August Social Housing
© Ossip van Duivenbode

The 175 compact two- and three-room apartments are light and have a spacious set-up. Most apartments have their own balcony or roof terrace.

Due to the simple and repetitive building structure, the facades, balconies, and shell could be constructed with prefab elements.

This efficient building method freed up a budget for a high-quality design of the entrance spaces.

The August Social Housing
© Ossip van Duivenbode
The August Social Housing
© Ossip van Duivenbode

As a result, The August has two large entrances with round staircases, spacious lift portals, wide corridors with a soft PET-felt wall finish, and an intriguing garden design. Here, residents come home, meet their neighbors, and welcome their guests.

The U-shaped building encloses a semi-open courtyard on Docklandsweg, which functions as a shared front yard and provides access to the two entrances.

In this garden, designed by artist Kiki van Eijk and landscape architect Sant en Co, architecture, nature, and art merge into one.

Large, terracotta-colored pebbles are laid out in the landscape and form different seating areas.

The August Social Housing
© Ossip van Duivenbode
The August Social Housing
© Ossip van Duivenbode

The pebble shape is reflected in the garden design and in the terracotta ceramic light elements, which contrast with the green glazed plinth facade.

The August is recognizable and has a soft identity, with a lively and original garden, which will help the residents feel at home.


The August Social Housing
Ground Floor Plan
The August Social Housing
2nd Floor Plan
The August Social Housing
6th Floor Plan
The August Social Housing
6th Floor Plan


The August Social Housing
Front Elevation
The August Social Housing
Rear Elevation
The August Social Housing
Longitudinal Section
The August Social Housing
Cross Section


The August Social Housing
Facade Fragment

Team V Architecture
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Team V Architecture
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