"Wissedwinger" Apartments, Leeuwarden • 1995-2000
Client: Heijmans Vastgoed, Almere

The two urban villas are situated in the city park along the Noorder Stadsgracht and adjoining the Infirmerie on the edge of the old centre of Leeuwarden. Traditionally, the Infirmerie is regarded as an object languishing amid greenery and DKV had this same picture when siting and designing the housing blocks. In order to ensure optimum sunshine and an unimpeded view, they have been turned a little in relation to the road. As a result, the villas are experienced from the road as detached elements rather than as a façade.
Another starting point was not to erode but to reinforce the park and its function by maintaining existing pedestrian routes, by adding new routes, and by supplementing the greenery.
To integrate the natural differences in height in the grounds, retaining walls have been installed, traversing the landscape. Terraces were the consequence, and the villas have been placed on top of these. By placing the buildings on a semi-transparent, set-back plinth, the sightlines over the location remain as wide as possible. The volume on the plinth has a slate cladding that gives the building a robust allure, harmonizing with both the Infirmerie and the city park.
Via a wide staircase, a five-metre-high alcove allows entrance to the central hall which has a light allure due to the application of wood, forming a splendid contrast with the robust exterior. The hall gives access to the five storeys that have three corner houses on each floor. The fifth floor accommodates two penthouses whose volume is a set back a little in comparison to the lower floors. As a result, these houses have a large roof garden with a wide panorama of the old city and the park. Because this floor is set back, the main volume of the blocks appears less massive.