Studio\
Woodroffe\Papa\

Social Housing: Less Talking,
More Transforming\
192 Affordable Homes\

The rectangular site is currently occupied by three tower blocks surrounded by open parkland that lacks legibility and identity. The buildings are experiencing increasing technical and structural problems and will therefore be replaced giving all the residents new homes.

A complex choreography of phasing is required, during which the decanting of residents, demolition of blocks and construction of new buildings will be delivered incrementally over a six year period while retaining residents on site at all times. The site is also recognised as being of archaeological importance. The area for new development is therefore confined to within the boundaries of the foundations of the existing tower blocks and a small, basement car park. Our proposal establishes a strong urban framework with a focus on increasing the quality and diversity of accommodation for the residents while creating new spaces that integrate the development more effectively with the surrounding community.

Due to the fact that the buildable land is set back from the site perimeter, the challenge has been to create clear and safe boundaries. A combination of medium-rise blocks and low-rise terraces form an ensemble of differentiated spaces that define a much clearer set of thresholds between public and private life.

A new pedestrian street in the heart of the development gives formal access across the site. A sequence of spaces - play grounds, orchard gardens and communal courtyards - creates an informal diagonal route across the site linking key access points from the surrounding neighbourhood.
This culminates in a plaza in the site’s south-west corner with facilities for the wider community.

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Paspoel Anders\
Tongeren BE \

Client \
Gewestelijke Huisvestingsmaatschappij
Woonzo cvba

Programme \
192 apartments \
Community center \
130 underground parking spaces \
Site area: 1.3 ha \
Building costs EUR 25,000,000 \

Generating force
in re-eveluating the role of
housing in urban
regeneration

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The Angle, Almere, NL\

54 'starter homes' offer city
living around new public square

This mixed-use residential project offers affordable starter homes arranged around a vibrant square in OMA’s masterplan for the new city centre. Due to its position in the masterplan, the challenge was to formulate an architectural and urban response that defined the borders of the city centre, mediating between old versus new city fabric, fast versus slow city movement and the lower parking level versus the raised shopping deck. The required mix of private and public functions further increased the brief’s complexity.

The subsequent angular building form mediates between these opposing urban conditions and ensures that the new square, with its shop fronts and cafes, is protected from the ring road and associated traffic noise. On one side of the block, secluded private balconies are orientated to the square and to the sun; on the other side, a glazed, acoustic screen shelters circulation spaces and roof terraces.

An important consideration has been to confront the diverse requirements for the elevation within a singular design concept. Our proposal wraps the building in a continuous ‘skin’ of glass and aluminium panels. This establishes a strong, clear identity to the building. Differentiation is created by responding to local conditions with subtle changes in transparency, opacity and colour.

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The Angle\
Netherlands \

Client \
Almere Hart CV: Bouwfonds MAB, Euro Woningen


Programme \
5400 m2 residential space \
3900 m2 amenities and retail space \
Site area: 0.3 ha \
Building costs : EUR 9,400,000 \

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