Kavel 6

Kavel 6 is an urban ensemble consisting of 170 studios for young people and 30 apartments for the elderly. The urban articulation of the ensemble responds to the highly urban context of Oostenburger Middenstraat by reinforcing the characteristic diversity in size, scale and appearance of the various buildings on the main street of the island, whilst creating a harmonious whole.

Whilst the building complex provides a diverse street front, the inside of the complex creates a soft landscape through a collective courtyard that is the heart of the assemble and provides a meeting ground for all the residents. A shady tree garden is complimented by tthe sunny roof terrace on a logistical corridor that runs across the entire length of the plot. This is the convergence point of the building, where encounters and connections between dwellers of different ages is possible.

Nicknamed ‘De Stoomkracht’, the housing complex for the elderly on the corner of the ensemble of Kavel 6, is a building that caters to the specific needs of an ageing generation in the urban environment. The architectural design reinforces the urban principles of diversity and contrast, whereby the language and spatial configuration of the building itself is designed around a constant mediation between the individual needs and the desire for collective integration.

To respond to the street and garden sides of the plot, the articulation of the building is divided from a functional and architectural standpoint into two smaller buildings. The street-facing facade takes up the corner and is the main housing block, whilst facing the courtyard, a lighter industrial building section provides space for a spacious circulation and meeting space.

The residential section of the building houses a workspace on the ground floor and 30 apartments for the elderly on the upper floors. The design of the apartments provides a user-friendly plan that anticipates the limited mobility of its inhabitants. Those are divided between a functional zone encompassing a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom on one side, and an open living space that stretches across the two facades of the building and can be freely arranged. Large windows on either side provide the apartments with abundant light and views, allowing for visual connection to the outside world. The expression of this section is robust, and provides each apartment with intimacy and individuality from the street. Built from dark brown modular bricks, its appearance communicates a steady and reliable dwelling space. The large square windows facing the street are staggered within the rigid square pattern of the bricks, creating a play between collective and individual.

On the inside of the complex, a 3m wide building block serves as a spacious circulation and community space. With a generous entrance and a large corridor for vertical circulation, this section becomes a key community space for the elderly to meet. In stark contrast to the dwelling section, this part of the building has a light and industrial articulation, and is clad by a steel mesh, that will allow ivy and vine to grow towards the collective garden of the complex. As a softer, lighter counter-part to the main building block, this part of the building is key to catering to the need for community and interaction for users. The two counter-parts serve for both the needs for intimacy and stability, as well as lightness and conviviality.