Many of the post-war housing estates in the Netherlands are currently being upgraded. Meeuwenplaat, part of Rotterdam Hoogvliet, is one of them. In an attempt to give Hoogvliet new élan the goal is to reinforce the existing qualities of the district. Meeuwenplaat is a typical example of post-war construction with much green and poor-quality maisonettes that resulted in a severe lack of occupancy.

As part of the restructuring operation VMX Architects is commissioned by Estrade Projecten and Ambap to design 80 low-rise houses and 60 high-rise apartments for families and elderly people on top of a shopping centre.

The starting point was that the existing houses had to be demolished and replaced by better and larger houses. However, the number of houses had to remain the same. Also various mature trees at the location, the long sightlines between the buildings, and the amount of public greenery ought to be respected in the new plan. VMX designed strips of terraced houses linked in a meandering line and combined with a narrow volume – ten storeys high – on a pedestal of shops with a parking deck on top. This design combines car-parking at ground level, under the terraced houses, with high-quality exterior space for everyone. In addition the meandering shape ensures an interlocking with the park. In its materialization the design harmonizes with the surrounding architecture but simultaneously radiated a certain wealth and optimism, using green and orange coloured glass, carved stone and perforated aluminium.

genomineerd voor de Bouwkwaliteitsprijs Rotterdam 2008!