Bram van den Heuvel - Master of Architecture - The Bajesbuurt

Bram van den Heuvel The Bajesbuurt (Bajes neighbourhood) A new future for the Bijlmerbajes prison +31 (0)6 0619526977 bavdheuvel@gmail.com bramvandenheuvel.eu linkedin.com/in/bram-van-den-heuvel-14206820 Project Architect at Space Encounters

Amsterdam Academy of Architecture Graduation Projects 2015-2016

Architecture

Bram van den Heuvel The Bajesbuurt (Bajes neighbourhood) A new future for the Bijlmerbajes prison

In my graduation project, the Bijlmerbajes is transformed from a prison into a new living environment for Amsterdam, the Bajesbuurt (Bajes beighbourhood), and this will serve as a catalyst for the social cohesion of the location, the neighbourhood and the city.

From prison to a new living environment Forty years after the opening of a revolutionary prison concept, the Bijlmerbajes prison must close.

The pioneering nature and the rehabilitation concept, which are the basis of the Bijlmerbajes prison, have led to a exceptional complex. However, this complex, a landmark at the entrance to the city with a unique character, no longer fulfils the current requirements of the prison policy. In addition to the prison policy, the city and the society are also subject to change.

Paradoxically, there are high vacancy rates and, at the same time, there is a serious lack of housing.

Moreover, we, as residents of the city, are now using the city differently than in the past.

Building a new neighbourhood By using the cultural-historical elements of the Bijlmerbajes prison, such as the moat, the wall and its six towers, I want to preserve the existing character. I will exploit the isolation of the complex in order to create a new location for the city. The design follows on from the concept that the neighbourhood increasingly serves as a type of living room. More and more activities of urban dwellers take place outside the home, such as working, meeting and relaxing. The inner area of the Bijlmerbajes prison will become the living room and will, over the course of time, be developed by occupants, entrepreneurs and local residents. The basis consists of a parcelling out of the inner area, which is cleared of buildings that divided the area instead of connecting it. In the first instance, this area will be filled in with nature and agriculture. This will be supplemented in later stages with facilities for the occupants, neighbourhood and city.

The wall provides natural social control and protection. This enables the space to be vulnerable, but also offers a physical platform for experimenting with new initiatives. The wall connects with the environment by means of ecological and cultural solutions. The towers will each be separately repurposed with the focus on a different theme per tower, such as working, joint project commissioning or healthcare. This will create a varied and social balance in the neighbourhood.

I worked out one of the towers in greater detail, in which working will be the main focus. Within this theme, I have developed various housing typologies for different target groups, such as single people, families, communes and urban nomads. This variety of homes is expressed in the aesthetics of the building. The homes are small and simple, mainly used for sleeping. All other, primarily, social activities take place in the open heart of the building and in the inner area of the complex. For example, various basic facilities have been designed, which are shared by the occupants, and there is free space that can be jointly given shape by the occupants.

By making use of the existing construction, routing and shafts, while also adding atria, the closed tower is converted into a new open complex with an internal network of galleries, balconies, squares and staircases, as a result of which new unexpected relationships are created on both a spatial and social level.

Graduation date 17.06.2016

Commission members Laurens Jan ten Kate (mentor) Albert Herder Bruno Doedens

Additional members for the examination Herman Kerkdijk Judith Korpershoek

Bram van den Heuvel

Architecture

visualisation inner area first phase

visualisation inner area final phase

Bram van den Heuvel

scale model 1:1000 location

original situation

scale model 1:500 design complex

construction and shafts

additions / atria

facade

existing

new

scale model 1:100 heart of the building

Architecture

seclusion / orangery

living

meeting / working

new design tower

Bram van den Heuvel

top floor

inner area

entrance

Amsterdam Academy of Architecture Architect, Master of Science Urbanist, Master of Science Landscape Architect, Master of Science

With the inclusion of the course in Urbanism in 1957 and Landscape Architecture in 1972, the Academy is the only architecture school in the Netherlands to bring together the three spatial design disciplines under one roof.

Some 350 guest tutors are involved in teaching every year. Each of them is a practising designer or a specific expert in his or her particular subject. The three heads of department also have design practices of their own in addition to their work for the Academy. This structure yields an enormous dynamism and energy and ensures that the courses remain closely linked to the current state of the discipline.

The courses consist of projects, exercises and lectures. First-year and second-year students also engage in morphological studies. Students work on their own or in small groups. The design

projects form the backbone of the syllabus.

On the basis of a specific design assignment, students develop knowledge, insight and skills.

The exercises are focused on training in those skills that are essential for recognising and solving design problems, such as analytical techniques, knowledge of the repertoire, the use of materials, text analysis, and writing. Many of the exercises are linked to the design projects.

The morphological studies concentrate on the making of spatial objects, with the emphasis on creative process and implementation. Students experiment with materials and media forms and gain experience in converting an idea into a creation.

During the periods between the terms there are workshops, study trips in the Netherlands and abroad, and other activities. This is also the preferred moment for international exchange projects. The Academy regularly invites foreign students for the workshops and recruits wellknown designers from the Netherlands and further afield as tutors.

Graduates from the Academy of Architecture are entitled to the following titles: Architect, Master of Science; Urbanist, Master of Science and Landscape Architect, Master of Science.

Architecture

Architects, urbanists and landscape architects learn the profession at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture through an intensive combination of work and study. They work in small, partly interdisciplinary groups and are supervised by a select group of practising fellow professionals.

There is a wide range of options within the programme so that students can put together their own trajectory and specialisation.