René van Zuuk Architekten - Block 16

René van Zuuk Architekten
Block 16
Almere, The Netherlands

A wavy facade surface provides the Block with a dynamic quality and an expressive image.

Photo ©Christian Richters

Block 16, nicknamed “the Wave,” is part of the master plan designed by OMA for the new city center in Almere. Sited on a pedestal, a basement car park designed by OMA, the autonomous expressive block reacts on two conditions: the billowing end marks, as a kind of gatekeeper, the harbour entrance, the opposite smoothened end fits the building into the right-angled grid of the adjacent glass high-rise apartment buildings.

Photo ©Christian Richters

The design is largely based on an analysis of tunnel formwork construction; the basic principle being the simultaneous casting of floors and party walls.
Similar to extrusion techniques, this requires a constant section. It is common practice that the tunnels are also of a constant length, resulting in a regular concrete skeleton. Variation in the length of adjacent tunnels breaks the monotonous structure. The result is a wavy facade surface providing the block with a dynamic quality and an expressive image.

Photo ©Christian Richters

The common entrance and the storerooms occupy half of the elevated deck level. The other half, a gym which includes a fitness-café in the parking area below, is an autonomous pavilion.
The living rooms of all apartments are south-facing and orientated to the waterfront. Two central corridors, provide access to the 49 apartments.
On the northern side of the block the private stairs are located interconnecting higher or lower floors. The main communal stairwell fills a seven-storey void located behind the biggest bulge.

Photo ©Christian Richters

Each of the facade elements cover an entire tunnel section. The intention was to apply the elements in a weatherboard manner, implying an overlap on all sides. This is only possible if the panels in the vertical direction shift sideways, resulting in an unwanted diagonal grid in the elevation. Because of the adapted application of the weatherboard principle, the sides of the panels do not fit.
The remaining oversized “chink” is sealed with a different material, separating the elements from each other. It provides the building with two faces; smooth and wavy in one direction, rough and staggered in the other.

Photo courtesy René van Zuuk Architekten

The silver-coloured anodised aluminium cladding of the facade, combined with the continuously changing incidence of light, creates a varying identity of Block 16 and suggests a moving scaly creature.

Drawing courtesy René van Zuuk Architekten
5th Floor Plan

Drawing courtesy René van Zuuk Architekten
6th Floor Plan

Drawing courtesy René van Zuuk Architekten
Cross Section

Site area: 1,650 square meters
Floor area: 8,740 square meters
Completion apartments: September2004
Completion square: July 2005

Photographed by Christian Richters

Client: Ontwikkelingscombinatie Almere Hart
Architects: René van Zuuk Architekten
Design:
René van Zuuk
Kersten Scheller
Project Team:
Björn Ophof
Marieke van den Dungen

Structural Engineer: Pieters Bouwtechniek Delft

René van Zuuk Almere Bridge

René van Zuuk Architekten arcspace features

March 13, 2006





				Features
		René van Zuuk Architekten Block 16 Almere, The Netherlands A wavy facade surface provides the Block with a dynamic quality and an expressive image. Photo ©Christian Richters Block 16, nicknamed “the Wave,” is part of the master plan designed by OMA for the new city center in Almere. Sited on a pedestal, a basement car park designed by OMA, the autonomous expressive block reacts on two conditions: the billowing end marks, as a kind of gatekeeper, the harbour entrance, the opposite smoothened end fits the building into the right-angled grid of the adjacent glass high-rise apartment buildings. Photo ©Christian Richters Photo ©Christian Richters The design is largely based on an analysis of tunnel formwork construction; the basic principle being the simultaneous casting of floors and party walls. Similar to extrusion techniques, this requires a constant section. It is common practice that the tunnels are also of a constant length, resulting in a regular concrete skeleton. Variation in the length of adjacent tunnels breaks the monotonous structure. The result is a wavy facade surface providing the block with a dynamic quality and an expressive image. Photo ©Christian Richters The common entrance and the storerooms occupy half of the elevated deck level. The other half, a gym which includes a fitness-café in the parking area below, is an autonomous pavilion. The living rooms of all apartments are south-facing and orientated to the waterfront. Two central corridors, provide access to the 49 apartments. On the northern side of the block the private stairs are located interconnecting higher or lower floors. The main communal stairwell fills a seven-storey void located behind the biggest bulge. Photo ©Christian Richters Photo ©Christian Richters Each of the facade elements cover an entire tunnel section. The intention was to apply the elements in a weatherboard manner, implying an overlap on all sides. This is only possible if the panels in the vertical direction shift sideways, resulting in an unwanted diagonal grid in the elevation. Because of the adapted application of the weatherboard principle, the sides of the panels do not fit. The remaining oversized “chink” is sealed with a different material, separating the elements from each other. It provides the building with two faces; smooth and wavy in one direction, rough and staggered in the other. Photo courtesy René van Zuuk Architekten Photo courtesy René van Zuuk Architekten The silver-coloured anodised aluminium cladding of the facade, combined with the continuously changing incidence of light, creates a varying identity of Block 16 and suggests a moving scaly creature. Drawing courtesy René van Zuuk Architekten 5th Floor Plan Drawing courtesy René van Zuuk Architekten 6th Floor Plan Drawing courtesy René van Zuuk Architekten Cross Section Site area: 1,650 square meters Floor area: 8,740 square meters Completion apartments: September2004 Completion square: July 2005 Photographed by Christian Richters Client: Ontwikkelingscombinatie Almere Hart Architects: René van Zuuk Architekten Design: René van Zuuk Kersten Scheller Project Team: Björn Ophof Marieke van den Dungen Structural Engineer: Pieters Bouwtechniek Delft René van Zuuk Almere Bridge René van Zuuk Architekten arcspace features March 13, 2006