De Warren
by Natrufied Architecture
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Project details
Year
2024
Project year
2023
Building area
3070 m²
Project website
Location
Team credits
architects
- Natrufied Architecture -
Boris Zeisser,
Anja Verdonk.
contributing architects
Dinand Kruize,
Sebastiaan van Kints.
commissioned by
Wooncoöperatie De Warren
De Warren is an innovative collective housing project situated on Centrumeiland in Amsterdam, featuring 36 social and affordable rental apartments. As Amsterdam’s first self-build housing cooperative, De Warren exemplifies sustainable living, achieving an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of -0.16 through the use of timber construction and recycling methods.
A housing cooperative is a legal entity where residents collectively own and manage their building, differing from traditional ownership models. In this arrangement, the cooperative owns the entire structure while residents rent their units, paying monthly fees that cover maintenance, utilities and mortgage payments. The cooperative collectively secures a mortgage, distributing financial responsibility among all members rather than imposing individual loans. Operating on a non-profit basis allows De Warren to maintain lower rents that cover only essential expenses. As the mortgage is paid off, rent will decrease significantly, potentially falling well below the averages for social and regulated rentals in Amsterdam.
Collective living is at the heart of De Warren’s philosophy. Through workshops with future residents, the decision was made to allocate 30 per cent of the building to shared spaces, amounting to approximately 800 m². These communal areas include a large auditorium, multifunctional space, children’s playroom, music studio, several home offices, quiet room, greenhouse, roof terrace and various communal living rooms and kitchens. The centralized design of these spaces, arranged along the ‘Machu Picchu’ staircase, encourages daily interactions among residents.
The building’s exterior is clad in recycled Azobe inhibitor boards, applied untreated for a maintenance-free finish. The ‘mikado’ façade features recycled lake poles (Basralocus) used for the balconies, promoting nature inclusivity with planters that utilize rainwater from the roof.
De Warren incorporates 330 m³ of wood in its façade finishes, main loadbearing structure, HSB façade elements, window frames and internal walls, effectively sequestering over 300 tonnes of CO2 – equivalent to approximately 200 years’ worth of emissions from the average car in the Netherlands.
Instead of connecting to the local heat grid, the project employs self-generated heat. Due to soil conditions, 30-m piles were installed and converted into energy piles, using hoses as heat exchangers in conjunction with a heat pump to extract and distribute ground heat. The roof is reserved for photovoltaic panels, reinforcing the project’s commitment to sustainability.
The supporting structure features a wooden column and beam system, allowing for flexible future layouts through the removal of lightweight internal walls. De Warren stands as a model for sustainable, collective living that promotes community engagement and environmental responsibility.
At Natrufied Architecture, the design philosophy centres on a participatory approach that deeply engages residents throughout the design process. In developing the De Warren housing cooperative, the firm conducted joint design sessions with the residents to ensure that the final design closely aligned with their wishes and needs. These collaborative workshops facilitated detailed discussions on various aspects of communal living, such as the balance between private and collective spaces and the potential for grey areas that encourage interaction among residents.
Co-creation is a cornerstone of Natrufied Architecture’s practice, with interactive workshops integral to understanding the desires of future residents. This approach yields designs that prioritize functionality and community orientation, ensuring that the resulting residential cooperatives meet high standards of comfort, sustainability and social cohesion. By actively involving residents in the decision-making process, Natrufied Architecture fosters a sense of ownership and belonging, enhancing the overall living experience. Through this commitment to collaboration and community engagement, the firm consistently develops innovative housing solutions that resonate with the values and aspirations of its clients.
The prize money will be allocated to fund workshops and guidance in the design process for establishing a new housing cooperative in Amsterdam, known as De Torteltuin. This group of 50 individuals has secured a site to build 40 apartments using a cooperative model.
The aim for De Torteltuin is to construct a fully wooden structure from the ground floor up. This project will serve as a model showcasing that large-scale biobased construction can be affordable, even on a relatively low budget. Additionally, it will demonstrate to policymakers that promoting wood-based development is both realistic and achievable.
- Information for the project text was provided by Natrufied Architecture -
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Advisory Committee Statement
‘De Warren’ receives the award for Social Engagement for pioneering a solution to the availability crisis in social housing in the Netherlands. In a context where housing costs are high, this project distinguishes itself by creating affordable homes in an environmentally sustainable manner, using renewable and recycled materials. De Warren features shared spaces that promote communal living and encourage social interaction. The project exemplifies self-organization and participatory development, ensuring long-term affordability with financial benefits remaining within the cooperative. De Warren challenges the current housing market system and sets a precedent for future social housing projects in the developed world.