Why | To revitalize an outdated business park
What | Team building, process management, concept, design, implementation plans
Where | Amstel, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
With | COLOKi + Esther de Graaf (Plein06) + Dennis Hauer (NL Ingenieurs) + Anna Vlaming

Amstel III is an outdated business park. Approximately 30 % of the office area is structurally vacant, ownership is fragmented, investment climate has deteriorated. The area is dominated by cars and is dead at night. I put together an interdisciplinary team to submit a comprehensive proposal to the Europan competition organisation.

We imagined a strategy that will slowly change the area into a full urban district with housing, new types of working places, retail, leisure and local facilities. ‘VIV’Amstel 3’ is the new healthy neighbourhood to live in Amsterdam. Like an organism, it will develop gradually, from its centre to its edges and smartly reach its maturity.

We propose to create a CID (Community Improvement District) where stakeholders will develop a shared vision and a common fund.

Then we will activate the district with light, quick and affordable means and focus on improving the current visitors’ experience, especially on the street level.

With the fund growing through the BID, it will then be possible to undertake larger works such as creating public spaces, transforming roads into streets, renovating buildings and building local energy production systems.