inverted glass case
The urban plan of Amsterdam is characterized by it’s canal structure. The plot for this plan is situated along such a canal, in the 19th century ring around the inner city.As a former industrial area, the plot forms an autonomous space in the closed block structure of 19th century Amsterdam. The plot is bounded by valuable urban tissue. On the west a monumental tram depot. On the east the plot is physically bounded by the canal but visually by the facades at the other side of the canal. Collective spaces for living are positioned at the boundaries of the plot. The plot is pierced by a public route that has look-throughs to the city around the plot. Both the collective and the public space is framed by half closed blocks that are directed to the edges of the plot. At the corners small scale public functions are positioned. The public area is seperated form the collective area by canopies. These canopies also facilitate a transition area between public and private. Visually, the facades along the canal are continued.
A collective space is positioned between the public space and the canal. The individual houses are accessed with porches that can be reached via the collective couryard. In a zone between the porches wet facilities for each house are placed. Over the porches a volume with houses is placed. At the canal, the collective area is seperated from the public space by a canopy.