921 new homes in Amsterdam-West: MVRDV transforms former office site into the green neighbourhood Westerpark West

MVRDV’s Westerpark West masterplan in Amsterdam has completed construction. Once an isolated strip of office buildings wedged between a canal and an allotment garden park, the masterplan has transformed this site into a neighbourhood of architecturally diverse apartment buildings with lush greenery. The neighbourhood’s landscape integrates seamlessly with its surroundings, creating a natural extension of the adjacent Westerpark. Comprising a total of 15 buildings with 921 homes, Westerpark West helps to alleviate the ever-growing housing demand in Amsterdam.

The site was previously occupied by an office complex owned by ING. The existing structure of one of the three office buildings could be reused during construction. MVRDV’s design splits the site into five plots, each with its own charismatic design motif, arranged in a ‘Strip’ along Haarlemmerweg – a busy western access route to Amsterdam’s city centre. This creates a diverse architectural ensemble and generates a wide variety of apartment sizes and typologies, from gallery apartments to spacious corner apartments to apartments with sizeable bay windows. The housing offer ranges from one- to three-bedroom apartments, both for sale and rent.

The architectural diversity is further enhanced by an abundance of greenery and its waterfront location. The landscape design by Gustafson Porter + Bowman for the Westergasfabriek area was extended into the masterplan, with green public squares, plazas, and courtyard gardens, each with a distinct character varying from plot to plot. The homes also feature diverse outdoor spaces, from front gardens to loggias and balconies. Along the waterfront runs the Brettenpad, a well-known cycling and walking route that passes through the masterplan. The green, largely car-free public spaces, together with food venues, provide places for local residents and passers-by to walk, relax, and meet.

“Westerpark West sits on the Haarlemmertrekvaart, the canal that was once the fastest route between Amsterdam and Haarlem,” says MVRDV founding partner Nathalie de Vries. “Green spaces take pride of place all along the canal, so the old ING offices felt like an unwelcome interruption. We wanted to densify the site while greening and extending the Westerpark area. The masterplan shows how urban densification and increased liveability can go hand in hand. Some buildings cluster around garden courtyards, others cantilever outwards to preserve more space at ground level – all to provide over 900 new homes with immediate access to green and pleasant outdoor spaces. Many of the homes have features that allow their layouts to be adapted in the future.”

Construction of Westerpark West began in 2019, with plots being built in order from east to west. The first to be completed in 2021 was the Voortuinen, designed by Elephant, which transformed the tower of the former ING offices. 2023 saw the completion of three buildings: Blend, by MVRDV, is characterised by expressive bay windows that create extra living space and enhanced views; while Salt and Pepper, designed by MVRDV and Elephant respectively, are a pair of complementary designs – one white, one black, and both with dramatic 10-metre cantilevers facing in opposite directions.

Basil, designed by Elephant and completed in 2024, is a complex of four buildings in a pinwheel formation, with wide south- and west-facing access balconies providing residents with a space to soak in the sun. Finally, completed in 2026, is MVRDV’s Kruidentuin project – named for the Dutch word for herb garden. The largest project within the masterplan consists of a colourful family of seven buildings, each named after a different herb. Each building has its own distinct character, expressed through variations in brickwork, window frames, masonry patterns, and staggered balconies. Together, the buildings comprise 267 corner apartments, carefully arranged to give every resident an expansive view of the surrounding area.