Dichtersbuurt Amsterdam

Amsterdam, NL

How do we preserve cultural-historical value in the face of demolition and new construction?

Amsterdam

Dichtersbuurt

Amsterdam’s Dichtersbuurt, a leafy neighbourhood centrally located in the garden city of Slotermeer, is wholly owned by housing associations. The homes in the neighbourhood were built in the 1950s and are due for renovation. Due to the severe housing shortage after the war, the originally single-family homes were converted into duplexes even before construction began. The homes are small (+/- 37 m2), technically outdated and no longer meet modern requirements. The Dichtersbuurt offers good opportunities for urban densification: the neighbourhood has a low housing density and is well connected due to its location on the main roads Burgemeester Röellstraat and Slotermeerlaan. The neighbourhood is located within a government-designated post-war reconstruction area, which is important for its cultural-historical value. The starting point for the renovation is therefore to preserve the significant characteristics of the General Expansion Plan (AUP) for Amsterdam.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Amsterdam was largely a poor city. When the city of Amsterdam annexed various (parts of) neighbouring municipalities in 1921, it was an opportunity to think about the development of the city as a whole. The General Expansion Plan for Amsterdam (AUP) was drawn up in 1934, based on the urban development principles of CIAM, the International Congress of Modern Architecture. It was the first time that space for relaxation and recreation was given such a prominent place in an urban development plan. Slotermeer became the first garden city neighbourhood in the so-called Western Garden Cities. However, the outbreak of the Second World War caused a major delay. It was not until after the war that a follow-up to the General Expansion Plan of the 1930s was published: the Expansion Plan for the Garden City of Slotermeer of 1952.

1. Repetition

2. Openness and visibility

3. Linked blocks

4. Hierarchy of the green structure

5. Clear hierarchy of mobility

As part of this plan, the Dichtersbuurt was built some 60 years ago for both the working and middle classes. It became a modern residential area with many low-rise buildings, embedded in a coherently designed green network. Dichtersbuurt is one of the earliest districts of the Garden Cities, and one in which the urban development principles of the AUP are clearly expressed. It is characterised by light, air and space.

This can be clearly seen in the five main characteristics that together determine the spatial structure of the district.

1.  Repetition
– Strong, repetitive ensembles
– Simplicity and repetition in the architecture

 2. Openness and visibility
– Accessible courtyards
– Sightlines to courtyards thanks to staggered building lines

3.  Linked blocks
– Four strips together form two L-shaped units
– Differentiation in the corners on the north and south sides

4.  Hierarchy of the green structure
– Green orientation: city-district-neighbourhood-courtyard
– Generous collective and public green spaces
– Carefully co-designed green spaces
– Quiet, green, intimate courtyards

5.  Clear hierarchy of mobility
– Clear hierarchy for all modes
– HR Holststraat as a connector in the district.

The focal points for physical and social regeneration: 

1. Very high densification: all 426 homes will be demolished and 850 homes will be rebuilt

2. The average size of the homes will be doubled

3. At least 426 social rented homes will be rebuilt so that no social rented homes disappear

4. In addition to housing, there will also be commercial and social facilities that contribute positively to the quality of life in the neighbourhood and create opportunities for residents

5. Broad profiles for light, air and space, with lots of green areas and quality of place

6. Residents will park in the blocks on the Slotermeerlaan. This will stop traffic early on, making the neighbourhood car-free. Visitors will park on the street

7. The public space is characterised by a hierarchy in the green structure and many opportunities to meet. A central meeting place will be created in the middle of the neighbourhood.

Density

 Programming the public space

Ribs as a basic urban development structure

Car-free neighbourhood

Density
Due to the good location and very low density of the Dichtersbuurt, there is great potential for urban densification. The densification ensures a better orientation for the Burgemeester Röellstraat. In this way, the edges act as urban axes and contribute to the urban quality at the city level.

 Programming the public space
There is a lot of green space in the neighbourhood, but good programming of this will ensure better use. Both the association and the residents lack a central meeting place.

Ribs as a basic urban development structure
The north-south oriented higher volumes, the so-called ‘ribs’ of the urban development plan, characterise the neighbourhood and ensure optimal sunlight in the courtyards and the homes, guaranteeing the qualities of a garden city.

Car-free neighbourhood
The Dichtersbuurt will be a neighbourhood where pedestrians and cyclists come first. In the existing situation, the green experience of the neighbourhood is often negated by rat-running and the many parked cars. With the introduction of a car ban, early interception of traffic in the garages and reduced on-street parking, the neighbourhood will be less dominated by cars.

Dichtersbuurt Amsterdam

At the end of 2023, Amsterdam City Council approved an investment plan for the Dichtersbuurt urban development project, developed by De Zwarte Hond together with the City of Amsterdam and the Eigen Haard housing association. By doubling the number of houses and approximately quadrupling the number of square metres of living space, the plan contributes to addressing the housing shortage in Amsterdam. The urban development plan ensures a diversification of the housing supply in the neighbourhood and a healthier, more liveable and pleasant living environment. The most important starting point is to create an attractive and sustainable neighbourhood, both spatially and socially, where people will want to live, work and spend time. A wide range of housing typologies offers something for everyone. For example, there are small and large apartments, family apartments and single-storey homes. In the spirit of the Modernist General Expansion Plan (AUP) for Amsterdam, future-proof homes are being built that preserve the core urban values of light, air and space. At the same time, the green character of the garden city will be preserved and enhanced. The streets will be enlivened by an increased use of public space. Social and commercial facilities within the neighbourhood will be tailored to the needs of residents and users, minimising disturbance and contributing to a pleasant neighbourhood experience. In addition, business and retail space will be logically clustered and, together with high-quality play and sports facilities, will form a vibrant part of the neighbourhood.

data

Location
Amsterdam, NL
Size
7,5 ha
Client
Gemeente Amsterdam en Eigen Haard
Discipline
Urban Design
Program
Period
2021-2023
Status
themes