ACS Familia courtyard, showing two kids playing in the front. In the back there is a table were residents are sharing a meal. The courtyard is a place where traditions are born.

ACS101 - HAMERKWARTIER, AMSTERDAM, NL

YEAR
STATUS
PROGRAM

2017-2019
Case Study
Housing

This project is located in the Hamerkwartier in the North of Amsterdam. The L-shaped Block consists of ten floors. The first two storeys are reserved for public or (non)-commercial use. On top, there are eight storeys of apartments of varying sizes surrounding the courtyard. On average, the Block can hold between 20 to 35 apartments. The rigid grid structures allow for maximum freedom inside the building, making it possible to create a variety of apartments starting at 50m2 up to 150m2 or larger.

FAMILIAS
Families come in many different shapes and sizes, but they all have shared values and wishes. They want to feel comfortable and safe in their homes, connect with their neighbours, and be part of a thriving community. ACS: FAMILIA projects offer them that.  

ACS Familia courtyard, showing two kids playing in the front. In the back there is a table were residents are sharing a meal. The courtyard is a place where traditions are born.

COURTYARD
“Hof” (Dutch for courtyard) stands for garden and derives from the spatial organization: a collection of houses around a communal garden. The enclosed garden feels like a safe space and stimulates the community. Being able to see each others front-door and thus gaining a sense into the rhythm of your neighbours plays a significant role in the social cohesion between residents. The courtyard is the place for communal activities, rituals and is the place where traditions are born. Activities such as sharing meals, parties and other events strengthen the cohesion.

BUILDING PRINCIPLE
The FAMILIA block is an adaptation of the traditional Dutch courtyard housing. By cutting open one side of the building, more sunlight can reach deep into the courtyard, making it possible to stack more floors on top of each other while still maintaining the quality of life and sense of community in the courtyard.

CUSTOMISE FLOORPLANS
Giving future home-owners the power to influence the layout of their apartment makes them feel more invested in the building, the community and their neighbourhood.

Through an algorithm and an online platform, new home-owners can select the configuration of their apartment before construction starts. Based on a simple questionnaire, the new home-owners get a basic layout which they then can edit using sliders, allowing them to decide the position and size of individual rooms.

FACADE PRINCIPLE
The facade consists of three layers: the primary grid of 7.2m x 7.2m, a setback secondary grid, that adds variations and scale to the overall grid. And a third infill layer consisting of glass, French balconies and wooden louvres, giving the facade a lively and playful appearance.

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TYPE-1
FACADE STRUCTURE

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TYPE-1
FACADE STRUCTURE

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TYPE-1
FACADE STRUCTURE

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TYPE-1
FACADE STRUCTURE

2

TYPE-2
FACADE STRUCTURE

2

TYPE-2
FACADE STRUCTURE

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TYPE-2
FACADE STRUCTURE

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TYPE-2
FACADE STRUCTURE

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TYPE-2
FACADE STRUCTURE

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TYPE-3 
FACADE STRUCTURE

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TYPE-3 
FACADE STRUCTURE

MODULAR PRINCIPLE
The facade panels are 7,2m wide x 3,6m high and are the basis of ACS101. The panels are designed with a modular/prefab system in mind, making the panels an integrated part of the architecture, translating the seams of the panels into architectural accents that illustrate and give texture to the facade.

ACS: FAMILIA x INNOVATION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

ACS101 VILLAGE AMSTERDAM

ACS: FAMILIA x MAYOR OF EUPEN

ACS102 VILLAGE LOCKPORT

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