In January 2014, DENOLDERVLEUGELS completed the renovation of an exclusive 300m² apartment in Amsterdam-Zuid. The apartment occupies the top three floors of an apartment building dating from 1925.

The family who commissioned the project wanted to buy a home in Amsterdam after living in various places abroad. Together, we looked for a home that suited modern family life with an open setting. They found a two-story apartment that was in a state of disrepair. This made it possible to completely dismantle the existing apartment until only the structure remained. The existing building was transformed into a transparent and open structure, making optimal use of the relationship between the various rooms and floors.

The attic was unused when the property was purchased. In the new situation, the attic has been spectacularly incorporated into the living space and connected to the floors below by a large central void in which an open steel staircase has been installed. The void, located in the center of the apartment, provides daylight on all floors. The authentic beam construction and old masonry walls have been preserved to maintain the connection with the past. On the newly added attic level, a large roof terrace offers a beautiful view over the surrounding rooftops to a large part of Amsterdam, from the Olympic Stadium to the Rijksmuseum and Carré. From the roof terrace, the void offers a view of the entrance hall two floors below and forms the spatial and functional connection between the different floors.

The entrance hall is both surprising and spectacular, revealing the height of the apartment in a refined combination of steel, glass, and light. The openness and grandeur of the spaces with the central atrium show a fantastic metamorphosis compared to the old situation.
The dynamic family with children needed a clear social relationship between the spaces, but with enough places to retreat to. The open floor plans are divided into main functions that have a strong social relationship, separated by transparent walls made of steel profiles with glass and large pivot doors. The kitchen forms the social center of the home with a view of all the important spaces and the atrium, ensuring that the relationship with the upper floors is maintained.

Partly because the family has brought many pieces of furniture and art from different countries during their various addresses around the world, the modern apartment feels very warm, atmospheric, and richly decorated. The history of the apartment, the history of the family, and the respectful implementation of their wishes create a harmonious atmosphere in the apartment.
The apartment feels modern and warm, a welcoming home, which is exactly what the family wanted to achieve back in the Netherlands.