What could have been of Gershwin Plot 14 by NL Architects

Gershwin Plot 14 by Dutch firm NL Architects is an eye-catching project to start off the week. The proposal was the winning entry of a 2012 competition to design a new large residential building in Amsterdam.

Unfortunately, the project was abruptly cancelled in 2013. Such is the world of architecture...

Scroll down further to see what the project could have been.

Project description:

"G&S Vastgoed selected NL Architects in 2012 to develop the 22 story building on the Gustav Mahlerlaan. G&S as developer was already involved in many of the signaturebuildings in this area called Zuidas; the ‘Ito’, the ‘Vinoly’, the ‘UN Studio’, the ‘Rock’by Egeraat and many others.

The Zuidas is a Central Business District: the Canary Wharf or La Defense of Amsterdam. It aspires to become a vibrant urban center; a CBD combined with residential program."

"Virtually all major Dutch companies gravitate towards the area, but it also absorbs many European HQs of multinationals, law firms and an infinite amount of ‘shell companies’.  It is a splendid location: seven minutes from the historic center, and seven minutes from the Airport!"

"From north to south the volume falls to establish a relationship with the surroundings.  The urban layout of the Zuidas is a clever combination of tall structures in a checker board pattern placed on a plinth."

"The idea is to increase density while at the same time creating a European feel: perimeter blocks defining the experience of the ground level."

"G&S intends to combine rental apartments and luxury flats--in principle independent entities--into one building but with very distinct qualities between the categories–floor height, size of windows, size of the outdoor space, type of access. And with separate entrances. How to articulate this difference and still synthesize a coherent complex?"

"Syntrus Achmea, on behalf of two pension funds, is investing in the largest share of the apartments: 80 units of about 90 m² with moderate lease prices. All units require 12.5 m² balconies facing Southwest. The apartments are positioned on a plinth of commercial facilities."

"20 luxury penthouses are placed on top of this rental perimeter block. They feature flexible layouts, some are small others extra large; all are equipped with exceptionally  large outdoor spaces. The slender tower placed on the Northeastern corner rises to a height of 77 meters todefine the maximum envelop, stretching out to ‘touch’ the flight path." 

"The two types are merged into one figure. A gentle parabolic outline comes into being creating a stepped silhouette that offers splendid terraces. This ‘morph’ also accommodates the third typology: 30 more units, either for rent or for sale.  There are 3 types of access: gallery, corridor and directly from the elevator lobby."

"The horizontal bands of the facade ‘reflect’ the striped character of the surroundings but other than the hermetic corporate personality of the office buildings, Plot 14 radiates a lively residential atmosphere. Both the facade and the outline of the balcony are meandering, creating a pulsating outdoor space and a well defined but ‘fuzzy’ outline."

Project data

Gershwin Plot 14  - Mahlerlaan Amsterdam Zuidas 2012, cancelled 2013 
Client:  G & S Vastgoed 
NL Architects: Pieter Bannenberg, Walter van Dijk, Kamiel Klaasse 
Project Architect: Arne van Wees 
Team: Gen Yamamoto, Gerbrand van Oostveen, Gert Jan Machiels, Aleksandra Babicka, Guillia Pastore, Milda Naujalyte, Arminas Sadzevicius, Michal Krejcik  
Structural Engineers:  Van der Vorm - Van Rossum Samenwerkende Ingenieurs 
Installations:  Wichers & Dreef 
Environmental Consultant / Noise Control:  Cauberg Huygen 
Residential Consultant:  Eefje Voogd Makelaardij 
Parking:  Oever Zaaijer / John Bosch

All images courtesy of NL Architects.

For previous Bustler articles on NL Architects, click here.

Browse the thumbnails below to see additional images.