MO*town Track 8

Amsterdam, NL

Can a former office area become a great place to live?

Amsterdam

Mo*town track 8

The Sloterdijk district is one of the sub-areas of Haven-Stad, north-west of Amsterdam city centre, where 40,000 to 70,000 homes and 45,000 to 58,000 jobs are being created. Sloterdijk is undergoing a rapid and impressive transformation from a traditional office area into a vibrant urban district.

A prominent pioneer in this development is MO*town Track 8. This robust, green and sustainable project comprises 82 homes and various public facilities at street level. The design by De Zwarte Hond, commissioned by BPD and ERA Contour, marks an important step for the future of this promising neighbourhood.

Interaction, not loneliness!
MO*town Track 8 is based on the idea of “people attracting people”, with the aim of encouraging social interaction and reducing loneliness. The form of the building, the steel bridges and the communal gardens create natural meeting places. The lively plinth and the strong connection to the street level also create an inviting atmosphere, where interaction and connection are central.

A design that boosts the neighbourhood

A design that boosts the neighbourhood
Sloterdijk is transforming into a lively mixed-use district with a dynamic streetscape full of contrasts: high next to low, light next to dark, rough next to smooth, open next to closed. MO*town Track 8 fits in seamlessly. Surrounded by towers of different colours and heights, it stands out with its stepped, glossy dark façade, giving this prominent site in the city a monumental appearance. The three interconnected volumes, with galleries and walkways, create an open character and encourage encounters from the street to the top floor.

Designing together, living together
The future residents of MO*town Track 8 were able to actively participate in thinking about the design and size of their homes, giving them the opportunity to truly make their home their own. The open façade offers flexible layout options, while the stepped form allows for variation in home sizes and target-group appeal. By involving residents from the outset, a strong sense of community was created, even before the first residents moved in. This reinforced the idea of living together and forming a neighbourhood even before the project was officially launched.

Situation

Cross section

6th floor

Housing typologies

Sustainability at the heart of MO*town Track 8
MO*town Track 8 gives shape to Haven-Stad’s sustainable ambitions. The project uses recycled materials and integrates greenery on all floors, with façade planters and pre-cultivated gardens. Rainwater is collected in a 260 m³ basin for irrigation, and solar cells in the glass balustrades generate energy. Sloterdijk train station is within walking distance, while the basement offers space for bicycles and 30 shared cars – a smart move towards fewer private cars and more shared transport.

MO*town Track 8

Sloterdijk is a relatively young neighbourhood that is set to transform in the coming years from a business district into a vibrant, international district worthy of Amsterdam. Around Sloterdijk train station, offices will be converted into apartments and land will be made available for housing. On Plot O, De Zwarte Hond designed MO*town Track 8, a residential project with 82 apartments and a lively plinth with shops and restaurants. The building has a rugged appearance and has been carefully integrated into its surroundings. The stepped facade and the black colour match the different heights and colours of the buildings around Sloterdijk station. Much attention has been paid to biodiversity and ecology, with greenery and water being integral parts of the project. Under the building there will be a basement with space for 30 shared cars. MO*town Track 8 focuses on co-commissioning. Residents put their own stamp on the building by thinking about the size and layout of the apartments. This creates a community even before the project is completed. The building has also been designed around the idea of people attracting people. The shape of the building, the steel bridges and the communal gardens make people want to meet and linger here. The connection to the ground floor and the the plinth have also been designed to encourage interaction.