Nieuwdok NDSM
The 380 student homes on the NDSM shipyard site, right next to the crane track, form the next step in the redevelopment of the area. Nieuwdok NDSM rises among the large historic warehouses and docks. With a school integrated into the plinth, the building occupies a significant portion of a city block. Architect Ludo Grooteman is behind the design.
Nieuwdok NDSM
NieuwDok, Amsterdam-Noord
Programme
Regional Training Centre school and 380 student homes
Surface
24,000 m² GFA
Architect
Ludo Grooteman
Status
Completed
Year
2012 - 2016
Location
Amsterdam
Client
Amsterdam Waterfront BV
Construction
Diocon
Building physics
LBPSight
Installations
VIAC
Photographer
Thijs Wolzak
Monumental
The NDSM site is a former shipyard, located along the IJ in Amsterdam-Noord. The area is partially unused. The monumental industrial buildings serve as a backdrop for early adopters such as Greenpeace, MTV, and Red Bull. Small creative businesses have moved into some of the warehouses. Trendy festivals and new bars are an indication of the site’s growing appeal. In the coming years, the area will be transformed into a vibrant urban district, with an emphasis on creativity and diversity. Surrounded by the IJ and with a harbour and an active shipyard at its doorstep, the water plays a significant role in shaping the location and provides stunning views.
Double façade
The high noise levels from the still-active shipyard have played a key role in the design. Together with specialists, a double façade was designed to encompass a large portion of the building. This aluminium curtain wall consists of a series of bay windows, which act as a sound barrier, while maintaining an outdoor-like climate on the building side. This enables residents to open their windows without noise disturbance and gain additional space as a bonus. The bay windows are slightly twisted towards the water, forming a scaled façade.
Faceted Building
The school is located in the plinth, alternating two floors of classrooms with double-height spaces for the canteen and entrance. The plinth façade is characterised by double anthracite concrete piers, with large floral window frames in between. This robust plinth serves as the foundation for the dark red faceted upper structure, giving the building an autonomous presence. The design strongly connects with the surrounding industrial monuments.
Terraces
While the building appears simple from the outside, the inner courtyard is more complex and terraced. The lower two terraces are used as outdoor space for the school, while the upper terrace serves as a communal outdoor space for the student residences. The wooden deck, benches, tables and Corten steel planters create a soft and intimate atmosphere in this outdoor space. This is further emphasised by the images of construction drawings of historic ships that are printed onto the glass façade panels.