OMA . FABRICations architects . LOLA Landscape . renders: © Robota . photos: © Ossip van Duivenbode
The first residential tower of the Bajes Kwartier has been completed and occupied. The project transforms the former Bijlmer Prison into a new living quarter within the ring of Amsterdam. OMA is responsible for the masterplan and the design of five of the thirteen buildings planned for the site.
The Bijmerbajes was a prison complex built in the 1970s in the southeast periphery of Amsterdam. As the city centre expands in the subsequent decades, the Bijmerbajes begins to take a central location in Amsterdam, while remaining enclosed by walls, detached from the city. As part of a team led by real estate developer AM, OMA has designed the Bajes Kwartier masterplan – a 135,000 m2 development on the 7.5 ha Bijmerbajes site – transforming the former prison complex into a hub for sustainable living, well integrated with Amsterdam’s urban fabric.
The original Bijmerbajes – a prison between 1978 and 2016 – had been designed as a community that offers a degree of freedom to the inmates to facilitate rehabilitation. It had an administrative building, six towers connected by the Kalverstraat – a communal area for social interaction – and a series of courtyards and gardens. OMA’s design of the Bajes Kwartier keeps key elements of the former prison complex, while introducing new pedestrian and cycling paths that connect it to the rest of the city. The preserved prison wall, administrative building, one original tower, and new buildings accommodate the residential, commercial, and cultural program.
All the buildings on site are organized into four clusters, each with its unique identity. The original Kalverstraat becomes a central pedestrian and cycling path connecting the clusters. The preserved prison building is transformed into the Green Tower – a vertical public park that showcases Dutch urban farming concepts, and a viewing platform for the neighborhood. The new buildings contrast with the original solid concrete prison towers through their varied volumes, materiality and porous façades.
98 percent of the materials from the demolished Bijlmerbajes towers – such as concrete, prison bars, and cell doors – have been recycled or re-used in the new structures. The Bajes Kwartier is 100 percent energy neutral. A system that transforms organic waste into soil and energy has been installed. The masterplan has its own heat and cold storage installation below ground, and PV installations on roofs and facades.
For the development of Bajes Kwartier, the land and building property of the Dutch government’s Rijksvastgoedbedrijf have been sold to real estate developer AM. The master plan includes 1,350 apartments for sale and for rent, with 30 percent being social housing. OMA has designed four residential buildings in Bajes Kwartier – the Jay, the Martin, the Stern, and the Cardinal.
The Jay
The design of the Jay stems from the history of the Bijmerbajes. When initially planned in the 1970s, seven prison towers had been designed. Six towers were eventually built, leaving the plot for the seventh tower vacant for more than five decades. The Jay – with 17 floors and 135 apartments – stands on this plot in the northeast corner of Bajes Kwartier. It consists of two volumes, one containing standard apartments, and a taller volume with vertical circulation and special apartments. The white, prefabricated concrete panels and the square window grid make reference to the never-built tower. Each square window protrudes from the façade. The windows have been designed considering the sizes of the horizontal bars of the Bijmerbajes to evoke the history of the site. Inside, a central corridor connects the compact apartments on the two sides. A large staircase abundant in natural light connects the different floors.
The Jay has been designed following Bajes Kwartier’s principles for sustainable living. The building’s south façade is integrated with solar and green panels. On the ground floor are a communal living room and a co-working area. A shared garden – adjacent to the original prison wall surrounding Bajes Kwartier – is an extra leisure space for the residents. A two-level bicycle parking space and an organic waste collection room encourage a healthy living style.
The Martin
The Martin, one of the four buildings framing the central square at Bajes Kwartier, is composed of four interlocking cubes, merged like a three-dimensional Japanese puzzle. The stacking of the cubes creates a dynamic cascade of terraces, each with a distinct expression facing different orientations. In contrast to the old Bijlmerbajes towers, The Martin features a layered, permeable façade with balconies running along its entire perimeter, offering a striking contrast to the closed, monolithic design of the former prison complex. An outer grid unifies the entire building, while the transparent glass balustrades on the balconies provide glimpses of domestic activities.
Despite its seemingly intricate exterior, The Martin has a simple internal layout organized around a central core and two five-story atriums. Apartments range from compact two-room units of approximately 50 m2 to spacious four-room units of up to 140 m2. Rooftop terraces on the 6th and 9th floors offer green communal spaces with panoramic views of the city, complementing the extensive landscaping of Bajes Kwartier. The Martin is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring solar panels and an organic waste recycling facility that converts food waste into energy. A communal bicycle storage area provides added convenience for residents, encouraging eco-friendly urban living.
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