Netherlands: A House in the Air

Source: http://www.mvrdv.nl/

Like they say, architectural design evolves better when built around constraints. The WoZoCo Housing Estate in Amsterdam, Netherlands by MVRDV is an awesome example of innovation driven by constraints. The project was commissioned to create 100 housing units for elderly people (over 55 years of age). 

WoZoCo Housing Estate for the elderly in Amsterdam, Source: http://www.mvrdv.nl/

Source: http://www.mvrdv.nl/

The cantilevered projections in the Northern Facade and staggered windows and balconies
give the otherwise simple housing block its unique character 

Its hard to believe that complete housing units lie within the projecting blocks!

The Challenge

Rapid development in the area since the 1950's has increasingly put the green cover in the region under pressure. Also, Urban development planning regulations in Amsterdam restricts the maximum number of units in a block to 87. Hence to address building height regulations and norms without compromising on the green cover around the block and at the same time, to provide the number of units required by the client, 13 housing units were cantilevered from the North facade. 

An inside view of the projected units, Source: http://www.mvrdv.nl/

The cantilevered housing units, Source: http://www.sukiscoop.com/

Meeting the challenge of providing all 100 houses would have inevitably taken the budget beyond initial estimates. But amazingly, built between between 1994 and 1997, construction cost for this project was among the lowest in the housing segment at the time. To stay within budget, the plans and materials used were kept simple. Using a collage of simple elements like colored glass, doors and windows, the building has been transformed into a landmark project.

The balconies highlighted by colored glass, Source: http://curious-places.blogspot.in/

A View of the Southern Facade, Image Credit: Dirk Verwoerd

The southern facade looks like a wooden sheathed dresser with staggered open colored glass drawers. 

The staggered colored balconies, Image Credit: Helioscribe at Flickr

Source: http://www.corbisimages.com/

The structural support for the cantilevered portions is carefully concealed within the timber cladding and main body of the housing block

Source: © Samuel Ludwig www.samueltludwig.com

Source: © Samuel Ludwig www.samueltludwig.com

France: Concrete Poetry

Built completely in concrete and stone, the Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp (France), completed in 1954 is one of the most celebrated works of Le Corbusier, the Franco-Swiss architect known for his Modern designs.

The Notre Dame du Haut designed by Le Corbusier
Source:http://www.bluffton.edu/

The Outdoor altar set against the Eastern Facade,
Picture by: Fransesco Di Capua

The North Facade, Source: http://the189.com/

The chapel, as it looked in 1965, source: http://architecturalmoleskine.blogspot.in/

The chapel stands in a little town on a hill with lush greenery and uninterrupted views of neighboring villages. The building's powerful presence in the landscape, the dark dramatic Gothic interiors lit by diffused light, the raw, textured and austere finishes in stone and concrete, conjure up a powerful, yet humbling experience.The design invokes a feeling of awe while keeping alive the stories and history of the place. 

Hidden light sources and unique angular cutouts in the walls soften all the light entering the chapel, creating different shadows and hues throughout the day. Source: http://www.speirsandmajor.com/

The location was occupied by the Romans, then a Celtic shrine, followed by a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the 15th century which was destroyed by a fire in 1913. After being rebuilt in the Gothic style, it was again destroyed during the second World War. When Le Corbusier designed the new chapel in 1950, he built the structure around the ruins of the burnt Church. 

A pyramid erected using remnants of the original Church,
Source:  http://content.lib.washington.edu/

The eastern facade with the altar and the cross set against it, Source: http://www.waymarking.com/

The eastern facade has been designed with an altar both on the outside for an open congregation and the inside. The thick, white, roughcast concrete wall act as a frame for outdoor masses and worship, while the shell-like overhanging roof acts as a surrounding board for the hymns sung and the sermons given outside. 

The convex looking eastern facade which provides the perfect backdrop for the outdoor congregations, Source: http://www.arthitectural.com/

The pedestal provides for large outdoor congregations

Both areas are complete with the lectern, the man-sized Christian cross, the choir tribune and a rotatable statue of the virgin, an 18th century colored statue in a glass covered niche visible from both inside and outside. 

The little cut outs in the walls with the light shining through, look like stars from inside the chapel as we look upon the altar.

The staircase leading up to one of the smaller chapels, Source: http://www.bdonline.co.uk/

The glass niche with the statue of the virgin surrounded by tiny fenestrations in the wall
which let in just enough light to make them shine like stars behind the altar, Picture: Richard Anderson

The altar, the cross and the glass enclosure, Source: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/

The northern facade has the second entrance and the stairs. There are three smaller chapels within the interiors, each housed within one of the semi-cylindrical structures. The door is spectacularly framed between two semi circular cylinders which house the two of the chapels placed symmetrically along the axis of the door.

The three semi cylindrical structures housing the minor chapels, Source:http://www.dailyicon.net/

Source: http://www.bluffton.edu/

The south facade contains the main door, which is a colorful composition in red, yellow and blue by Le Corbusier himself.

The south facade, Source: http://www.flickr.com/

The entry is framed by grey concrete panels,
Source: http://www.bluffton.edu/

The main entrance door, source: http://architecturalmoleskine.blogspot.in/

This facade bears all the interesting cut outs which not only emphasize the thickness of the walls and the grainy texture on the walls, but are also used to create the mystical lighting effect in the interiors of the building. The angular depressions in the windows diffuse and soften the light entering the building to create an ethereal effect.

The colored glass within the openings, Source: Ed Tyler

The colors and shadows create a dramatic effect in the interior
Source: http://www.speirsandmajor.com/

Adding to the mystique, is a thin gap left between the walls and the roof. They not only allow thin strips of light, but also make the concrete roof look lighter. The walls are not load bearing. The roof is upheld by columns concealed within the walls!

The gap between the walls and roof gives a floating effect

The pews are also arranged at an angle further emphasizing the position of the altar.

The curved roof seems to float above the building, Source: http://archidialog.com/

The divine nature of the building, owing to its restrained, austere look and the dramatic play of light and shadows can be seen in many later projects like the Church of Light designed by Tadao Ando.

The Church of Light by Tadao Ando
Copyright © 2011 // Milamoo Creative Studio / Eden / 10-12 Woolpack Yard / Stricklandgate / Kendal / LA9 4NG