Environmental dimension
A closer study of the housing project reveals the deeper concept of the project: All south-facing façades of each housing block have been made as a refined climatic shield-construction, exploiting the sun and daylight at the most. At the same time, wind turbulences and crosswinds have been minimized by placing the blocks in angled ground positions combined with the idea of hermetically closing the outer staircases of the Northeastern façade with a glass construction – a sculptural and weather-protective solution pointed out as a ‘winter garden’ ready for orange trees and flower cultivating, so typical for Dutch townscapes and residential living.
All blocks are topped with wind finals that in the future will have photovoltaic panels providing power for lighting the staircases in the ‘winter garden’.
Environmental dimension
A closer study of the housing project reveals the deeper concept of the project: All south-facing façades of each housing block have been made as a refined climatic shield-construction, exploiting the sun and daylight at the most. At the same time, wind turbulences and crosswinds have been minimized by placing the blocks in angled ground positions combined with the idea of hermetically closing the outer staircases of the Northeastern façade with a glass construction – a sculptural and weather-protective solution pointed out as a ‘winter garden’ ready for orange trees and flower cultivating, so typical for Dutch townscapes and residential living.
All blocks are topped with wind finals that in the future will have photovoltaic panels providing power for lighting the staircases in the ‘winter garden’.
Concept
The conceptual use of a ‘sail’ as a clear and visual façade element makes the impression of a naval fleet of housing blocks floating on the sea in the shape of an artificial, rectangular watercourse (the ‘longwater’ bassin). The building forms are shaped in a way so that they all enclose small garden spaces related to the edge of the water course, protecting them from unpleasant crosswinds. Moreover, none of the Southern façades of the ten blocks are shadowed by the others.
This private space is essential for the communal identity and the feeling of security, which is important in a country like Holland, where people live rather close to each other. Therefore, this is not just an intimate joy for the residents but also a very social way of planning a housing concept. The semi-private verandas in the shelter of the winter garden make neighbour conversation and children’s play much more comfortable and pleasant. Protection against wind turbulence and the ability to take maximum advantage of daylight and sun is however the overall technological design concept used in the Armada project.
In combination with the use of materials offering a human scale, this is the very essence of the architect’s design philosophy. A successful case based on a strong architectural identity through privacy on a human scale, visual connections and communication through colour-coding and brick textures plus a refined high-tech climatic shield.
Site
The site of the Armada Housing is placed in the centre of the Paleiskwartier on a former industrial site close to the historic city of s’Hertogenbosch only a few minutes away from the transport hub (the railway station). In the design brief of the apartment buildings, emphasis is put on the contrasts between the five ‘longhouses’ and the five nine story ‘tallhouses’ plus the surrounding blocks; a contrast that in a delicate way ‘will continue to radiate warmth and quality over the years’.
Car parking with access directly to each apartment building is placed below the longwater basin, which by the way offers skating in the winter. The master plan of the area was created by planner Shyam Khandekhar.
The housing project not only creates the centre piece in a brand new, urban part of an ancient Dutch town. It also sets the standard of a traditional apartment housing project in a partly residential area with no architectural housing references. Not surprisingly the Armada Housing project and architect Tony McGuirk from Building Design Partnership got the ‘Publieksprijs 2004’ for the best and most popular housing project, nominated and appreciated by the users – the public itself.
Materials
The curved roof in stainless steel, with VELUX windows gently placed as cut-out holes ‘in the sail’, softly reflects the ‘big Dutch sky’ in each apartment. The roof is punctuated with balconies in glass and wood-slatted balustrades which creates a variety of angles facing the South. Outdoor life and dining on these wafer-like balconies is attractive in sunny, seasonal moments. Each apartment either has an individual balcony or a terrace.
The windy microclimate was also a major inspiration for the texture of the brick pattern used in the tallhouses, whereas cedar wood signifies the longhouses gables. The angled glazing enclosing the bridge-like gallery staircase adds a strong architectural value to the winter garden and connects the colour-coded entrance doors leading to the individual apartments.
Site
The site of the Armada Housing is placed in the centre of the Paleiskwartier on a former industrial site close to the historic city of s’Hertogenbosch only a few minutes away from the transport hub (the railway station). In the design brief of the apartment buildings, emphasis is put on the contrasts between the five ‘longhouses’ and the five nine story ‘tallhouses’ plus the surrounding blocks; a contrast that in a delicate way ‘will continue to radiate warmth and quality over the years’.
Car parking with access directly to each apartment building is placed below the longwater basin, which by the way offers skating in the winter. The master plan of the area was created by planner Shyam Khandekhar.
The housing project not only creates the centre piece in a brand new, urban part of an ancient Dutch town. It also sets the standard of a traditional apartment housing project in a partly residential area with no architectural housing references. Not surprisingly the Armada Housing project and architect Tony McGuirk from Building Design Partnership got the ‘Publieksprijs 2004’ for the best and most popular housing project, nominated and appreciated by the users – the public itself.
Materials
The curved roof in stainless steel, with VELUX windows gently placed as cut-out holes ‘in the sail’, softly reflects the ‘big Dutch sky’ in each apartment. The roof is punctuated with balconies in glass and wood-slatted balustrades which creates a variety of angles facing the South. Outdoor life and dining on these wafer-like balconies is attractive in sunny, seasonal moments. Each apartment either has an individual balcony or a terrace.
The windy microclimate was also a major inspiration for the texture of the brick pattern used in the tallhouses, whereas cedar wood signifies the longhouses gables. The angled glazing enclosing the bridge-like gallery staircase adds a strong architectural value to the winter garden and connects the colour-coded entrance doors leading to the individual apartments.
Concept
The conceptual use of a ‘sail’ as a clear and visual façade element makes the impression of a naval fleet of housing blocks floating on the sea in the shape of an artificial, rectangular watercourse (the ‘longwater’ bassin). The building forms are shaped in a way so that they all enclose small garden spaces related to the edge of the water course, protecting them from unpleasant crosswinds. Moreover, none of the Southern façades of the ten blocks are shadowed by the others.
This private space is essential for the communal identity and the feeling of security, which is important in a country like Holland, where people live rather close to each other. Therefore, this is not just an intimate joy for the residents but also a very social way of planning a housing concept. The semi-private verandas in the shelter of the winter garden make neighbour conversation and children’s play much more comfortable and pleasant. Protection against wind turbulence and the ability to take maximum advantage of daylight and sun is however the overall technological design concept used in the Armada project.
In combination with the use of materials offering a human scale, this is the very essence of the architect’s design philosophy. A successful case based on a strong architectural identity through privacy on a human scale, visual connections and communication through colour-coding and brick textures plus a refined high-tech climatic shield.
Site
The site of the Armada Housing is placed in the centre of the Paleiskwartier on a former industrial site close to the historic city of s’Hertogenbosch only a few minutes away from the transport hub (the railway station). In the design brief of the apartment buildings, emphasis is put on the contrasts between the five ‘longhouses’ and the five nine story ‘tallhouses’ plus the surrounding blocks; a contrast that in a delicate way ‘will continue to radiate warmth and quality over the years’.
Car parking with access directly to each apartment building is placed below the longwater basin, which by the way offers skating in the winter. The master plan of the area was created by planner Shyam Khandekhar.
The housing project not only creates the centre piece in a brand new, urban part of an ancient Dutch town. It also sets the standard of a traditional apartment housing project in a partly residential area with no architectural housing references. Not surprisingly the Armada Housing project and architect Tony McGuirk from Building Design Partnership got the ‘Publieksprijs 2004’ for the best and most popular housing project, nominated and appreciated by the users – the public itself.
Materials
The curved roof in stainless steel, with VELUX windows gently placed as cut-out holes ‘in the sail’, softly reflects the ‘big Dutch sky’ in each apartment. The roof is punctuated with balconies in glass and wood-slatted balustrades which creates a variety of angles facing the South. Outdoor life and dining on these wafer-like balconies is attractive in sunny, seasonal moments. Each apartment either has an individual balcony or a terrace.
The windy microclimate was also a major inspiration for the texture of the brick pattern used in the tallhouses, whereas cedar wood signifies the longhouses gables. The angled glazing enclosing the bridge-like gallery staircase adds a strong architectural value to the winter garden and connects the colour-coded entrance doors leading to the individual apartments.
Concept
The conceptual use of a ‘sail’ as a clear and visual façade element makes the impression of a naval fleet of housing blocks floating on the sea in the shape of an artificial, rectangular watercourse (the ‘longwater’ bassin). The building forms are shaped in a way so that they all enclose small garden spaces related to the edge of the water course, protecting them from unpleasant crosswinds. Moreover, none of the Southern façades of the ten blocks are shadowed by the others.
This private space is essential for the communal identity and the feeling of security, which is important in a country like Holland, where people live rather close to each other. Therefore, this is not just an intimate joy for the residents but also a very social way of planning a housing concept. The semi-private verandas in the shelter of the winter garden make neighbour conversation and children’s play much more comfortable and pleasant. Protection against wind turbulence and the ability to take maximum advantage of daylight and sun is however the overall technological design concept used in the Armada project.
In combination with the use of materials offering a human scale, this is the very essence of the architect’s design philosophy. A successful case based on a strong architectural identity through privacy on a human scale, visual connections and communication through colour-coding and brick textures plus a refined high-tech climatic shield.
A fleet of apartment buildings facing the sun
The ten shipshaped housing blocks immediately stand out when you enter the new city quarter ‘Paleiskwartier’ close to the centre of the old Dutch town S’Hertogenbosch. Or ‘sail’shaped is probably a better word to describe this sculptural and hyper-modern housing project limiting the wind and maximising the daylight at the same time.
Concept
The conceptual use of a ‘sail’ as a clear and visual façade element makes the impression of a naval fleet of housing blocks floating on the sea in the shape of an artificial, rectangular watercourse (the ‘longwater’ bassin). The building forms are shaped in a way so that they all enclose small garden spaces related to the edge of the water course, protecting them from unpleasant crosswinds. Moreover, none of the Southern façades of the ten blocks are shadowed by the others.
This private space is essential for the communal identity and the feeling of security, which is important in a country like Holland, where people live rather close to each other. Therefore, this is not just an intimate joy for the residents but also a very social way of planning a housing concept. The semi-private verandas in the shelter of the winter garden make neighbour conversation and children’s play much more comfortable and pleasant. Protection against wind turbulence and the ability to take maximum advantage of daylight and sun is however the overall technological design concept used in the Armada project.
In combination with the use of materials offering a human scale, this is the very essence of the architect’s design philosophy. A successful case based on a strong architectural identity through privacy on a human scale, visual connections and communication through colour-coding and brick textures plus a refined high-tech climatic shield.
A fleet of apartment buildings facing the sun
The ten shipshaped housing blocks immediately stand out when you enter the new city quarter ‘Paleiskwartier’ close to the centre of the old Dutch town S’Hertogenbosch. Or ‘sail’shaped is probably a better word to describe this sculptural and hyper-modern housing project limiting the wind and maximising the daylight at the same time.
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