ZEE Smartlofts
Honouring the old while celebrating the new
ZEE Smartlofts is about honouring the old while celebrating the new; it’s about connecting self-expression and community. In collaboration with a building group composed of fourteen households, we transformed the Oude Modeschool, a former fashion school building in the east of Amsterdam, into twenty-five Smartloft apartments. While the infill of each of these apartments is unique, designed by the people living in them, residents are connected via shared spaces they helped design.
Type
Location
Year
Status
Website
Go to websiteImage credits
Marcel van der Burg
Space&Matter
Hustle Creatives
Tjeerd Haccou
Marthijn Pool
Sil Mantel
Open Development
Vink Bouw
From old to new
The Old Fashion School consists of two contemporary buildings, one completed in 1914 and the other in 1969. Both parts contained spacious classrooms with high ceilings and large windows, forming a unique basis for the realisation of this noteworthy multi-residential building.
Future residents played a central role in the design process. Besides being given the freedom to design the infill of their own apartments, they came together to determine the design of the various shared spaces, which include a spacious living and dining room, guest room and roof terrace.
Sustainable makeover
The entire building received a comprehensive, sustainable makeover: we replaced the windows, insulated the walls and installed a solar-powered heating and cooling system. These adjustments not only have a positive impact on the environment but also increase the long-term affordability for residents.
In total, the building contains 25 units in a variety of sizes, all with ceiling heights of 4,5 meters. The high ceilings grant residents the freedom to build additional mezzanines and fully customise the infill of their apartments. Apartment sizes range between 44 and 218 square meters, thereby welcoming a diverse community of residents.
