How can a station area be transformed into a pleasant place to live, work and spend time?
Stationsmeester Heerhugowaard
Stationsmeester in Heerhugowaard, part of the Dijk en Waard[MOU1.1] municipality, is a unique project in the city’s new Stationskwartier district. It marks the start of the transformation of the station area into a fully-fledged urban living environment. De Zwarte Hond is designing two residential towers within walking distance of the station. Together, they enclose a green courtyard on the roof of a semi-underground car park, providing a communal space for meeting and relaxation. The northern tower comprises 84 social rental homes with spacious entrances, logical floor plans and private outdoor spaces. The southern tower contains 82 owner-occupied apartments, each with a unique layout, orientation and view. Commercial spaces in the plinth ensure a lively atmosphere at street level and a natural connection with the surroundings. The architecture is clear and layered, with carefully proportioned volumes and brickwork featuring a refined 10 x 10 header bond rhythm, giving the towers a timeless appearance. The custom-made, double-thickness bricks with dummy joints are made from local clay and have a long lifespan. Thanks to their connection to the Heerhugowaard Sustainable Ring and the use of collective district heating, the buildings meet the BENG standard for nearly zero-energy buildings in the Netherlands.[
data
- Location
- Heerhugowaard, NL
- Size
- 18.800 m²
- Client
- Dijk & Waard Stationskwartier
- Discipline
- Architecture
- Program
- Housing
- Period
- 2021
- Status
- In Development
- Partners
- Henselmans Bouw & Ontwikkeling, Pieters Bouwtechniek, adviesbureau Sijperda-Hardy
- themes
Building along the railway with beautiful detailing
Maximum living volume and compact homes
Collective and nature-inclusive roof garden
Intelligent structure and construction system
High-quality route from entrance to front door
Lively plinth in the station area
Architectural and urban integration
The two Stationsmeester residential towers of are positioned within the new Heerhugowaard station area, at the transition between the railway zone and the residential neighbourhood. This positioning aligns with the walking routes of travellers and residents, ensuring a logical orientation in relation to the station and the surrounding public area.
The towers are offset from one another to create an open space designed as a communal courtyard above the semi-underground parking garage. This composition contributes to good sunlight exposure, visibility, and clear addresses for both buildings.
The plinth contains the entrances and commercial spaces, forming an active transition between the public and private areas. The façades feature a vertical articulation, warm materials and recessed accents. These features give the building blocks a distinctive identity, ensuring they are well-aligned with the scale of the surrounding area. The towers have a timeless appearance thanks to their carefully proportioned volumes and brickwork with the refined rhythm of a 10 x 10 header bond. The custom-made bricks, of double thickness with dummy joints, are made from local clay and have a long lifespan.
Cross section
Side view
Quality of life and sustainability
Stationsmeester’s strength lies in striking the right balance between community and individuality. Each home features an abundance of natural light and a private outdoor area, and the communal courtyard is perfect for socialising and unwinding. The semi-underground car park leaves the ground level green and car-free, providing space for recreation and biodiversity. The homes are sustainably heated and cooled via a connection to the Heerhugowaard Sustainable Ring, which uses residual heat from the production processes at the nearby Zandhorst business park. This ensures that the buildings meet current BENG requirements.
Type A: 1st to 7th floors
Type B: 1st to 7th floors
Type C: 3rd to 11th floors
Stationsmeester is a place where the dynamism of travel meets the tranquillity of home.
