In Buiksloterham, a former industrial port in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the architectural firm Studioninedots, in collaboration with DELVA, is transforming the urban district through a pioneering and sustainable approach to urban, landscape, and social regeneration.

Cityplot Buiksloterham is an innovative urban planning project that prioritizes flexibility and citizen collaboration to develop a master plan capable of generating a resilient urban system that is constantly adapting to the changing needs of the community.

Examples of this unique urban development in Amsterdam are the various projects carried out by Studioninedots: the 110-unit residential tower, YCON, and the C14.

The urban plan developed by Studioninedots in collaboration with DELVA focuses on creating a district that highlights local value, with spaces dedicated to entrepreneurial and creative initiatives, where dynamic activities are promoted to strengthen the district and attract young people and entrepreneurs to contribute to the community.

With water as a fundamental element, the project runs along the waterfront, alternating the existing architecture with new green spaces, plazas, and promenades. It also incorporates two buildings conceived as abstract architectural objects that create a mixed-nature district, in a setting that fosters dialogue between architecture and its inhabitants.

Cityplot Buiksloterham by Studioninedots. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme

Cityplot Buiksloterham by Studioninedots. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Project description by Studioninedots

In Amsterdam’s Buiksloterham, a former industrial harbour is converting into a circular, mixed-use urban district. Designed in collaboration with DELVA, we introduce Cityplot Buiksloterham — one, pioneering approach to urban, landscape, and social regeneration.

Initiated during the last global crisis, Cityplot Buiksloterham is an innovative kind of urban planning. Instead of adopting a rigid top-down master plan, we focused on a flexible, collaborative way of thinking, aiming for a resilient urban system that can constantly adapt to the shifting needs and desires of the community.

Today, this revitalisation of the former Nedcoat and Air Products sites is rapidly taking shape, with 550 new homes and 4,000m² of workspaces, hospitality and public functions. What began as an experimental vision is now a thriving urban district where social and technological innovations meet.

Cityplot Buiksloterham by Studioninedots. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
Cityplot Buiksloterham by Studioninedots. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Rather than building larger, fixed urban blocks, we committed to a different course of action: creating smaller-scale plots, yet with a great variety of typologies. Work/housing units are radically intermixed with social housing, self-build projects and social hubs. With this approach, we bring individuals, collectives, businesses, investors and developers together to create a more collaborative setting.

The plan builds a durable community through ‘urban activators’ — dedicated spaces for initiatives by local entrepreneurs and makers. Drawing on their local value, these initiatives reinforce the district, attract young entrepreneurs and contribute to the community. A new activator, a community room at the heart of the plan, is currently being added and will be available for the neighbourhood to use for their own activities.

This smaller-scale layout encourages residents to actively shape their district, with its mixed nature fostering an ongoing dialogue between architecture and participants, between functions and economy.

Cityplot Buiksloterham by Studioninedots. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
Cityplot Buiksloterham by Studioninedots. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Cityplot Buiksloterham is an evolution of our ‘Cityplot’ concept, with which we also transform other former industrial and harbour areas into sustainable city districts. From our analysis of the Cityplot concept, the 100×100-metre plot emerged as the ideal building block size. This generous dimension provides enough space for the very diverse mix of typologies while ensuring accessibility both from the street and from the core. Cityplot Buiksloterham consists of three of these compact plots side by side: Plot A, B and C.

We prescribed that all buildings should express their own unitary architectural language, which actually creates greater variety among the buildings, giving the neighbourhood its powerful identity.

Public, semi-public, collective and private outdoor spaces alternate at various levels throughout the plan. At ground level, we have added open-ground gardens and large trees, which contribute to creating a circular city.

Cityplot Buiksloterham by Studioninedots. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
Cityplot Buiksloterham by Studioninedots. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Throughout the area, a route leads residents and visitors along green spaces, squares and walkways. At either end of this route, we introduced two buildings, designed as abstract, architectural objects. These structures provide space for centralised parking of cars and bicycles and for energy generation. By clustering parking, we could actually keep the public space car-free and put the pedestrian at heart in the area.

Water is a fundamental element in our design for Cityplot Buiksloterham. Tolhuiskanaal runs prominently along the area, with its quay integrated into the public space. Rainwater is collected and buffered in wadis, on roofs and in crates, after which it is drained into the canal. This helps prevent flooding and improve climate conditions. In future, the public space at the quay will be extended with walking bridges over Tolhuiskanaal, seating elements and green patches.

Cityplot Buiksloterham began as an experiment in urban development and has now become a vital part of Amsterdam. The ambition to adopt maximum circularity in a compact area now creates a functioning living environment, that people shape with each other.

More information

Label
Architects
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Project team
Text

Albert Herder, Vincent van der Klei, Metin van Zijl, Arie van der Neut, Ruben Visser, Karlijn de Jong, Monika Pieroth, Renske Backes, Lesia Toplonyk, Joost Maatkamp.

+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Collaborators Colaboradores
Text

DELVA Landscape Architecture | Urbanism.
Architects involved.- Civic Architects, DAMAST architects, Harvey Otten, OZ Architects, Space Encounters, Studioninedots, WE architecten, XOOMlab, XVW architectuur, self-build projects.

+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Client
Text

de Alliantie, Synchroon (Plot C).

+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Area
Text

GFA.- 63,000 sqm.
Plot size.- 29,000 sqm.

+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Dates
Text

2013 - ongoing.

+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Location
Text

Distelweg, Buiksloterham, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Photography
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Studioninedots was established in 2011 by Albert Herder, Vincent van der Klei, Arie van der Neut and Metin van Zijl as an architecture and urban design practice whose work extends from housing to urban concepts. Their practice excels in projects that transform complex urban sites, interweaving the built environment with the social fabric of a city. They are fascinated by the processes of (re)using or activating these sites; their dynamic contexts often demand unconventional solutions yet inspire new collective ways of living.

When facing urban challenges, they identify opportunities in circularity and, at the same time, embrace beauty and tactility as essential human needs. They team up: they adopt a collaborative approach that inspires, challenges and strengthens our work. Together with their clients and partners, they translate forward-thinking ideas and designs into a realistic framework, creating characteristic spaces that function as catalysts for meeting, exchange and connection.

Studioninedots is a multidisciplinary design practice with professionals working across architecture, interiors and urban planning. Studioninedots is based in Amsterdam, a city that inspires their with its open-mindedness, adaptability and creativity. With this in mind they initiated the Creative Workspace 1-1-1 in the former Stork factory building located along the Gedempt Hamerkanaal in Amsterdam’s north. It has an unfinished quality like its surroundings, thrives in its temporality, balances between rawness and comfort and has an element of unpredictability in its use: Studioninedots own WeSpace.
Read more
Published on: March 27, 2025
Cite: "Strategic and resilient. Cityplot Buiksloterham by Studioninedots" METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/strategic-and-resilient-cityplot-buiksloterham-studioninedots> ISSN 1139-6415
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...