The Twins, a residential ensemble like a green valley by KCAP
Rotterdam, 24 November 2022 - October saw the completion of The Twins, a residential ensemble designed by KCAP. The project consists of two robust volumes set around a communal courtyard garden. Stepped green balconies, combined with the sturdy materialization and luxurious detailing, makes for a sensorially rich ensemble, like a three-dimensional oasis right in the middle of Amsterdam.

The Twins is part of ‘Aan het IJ’, the redevelopment of the former Shell site in Amsterdam-Noord into a new neighbourhood for living, learning and working. The ensemble is situated on two L-shaped plots, at a pivotal position within the larger area. It was important for the buildings to have the same recognizable scale as their surroundings. The prominent location, however, also called for a strong architectural gesture.
The Twins是“Aan het IJ”项目的一部分，该项目将阿姆斯特丹北部的前壳牌基地改造为一个新的居住、学习和工作社区。整体建筑位于两个l形地块上，位于较大区域内的关键位置。建筑与周围环境具有相同的可识别尺度是很重要的。然而，突出的位置也需要一个强烈的建筑姿态。

Instead of designing two separate buildings, KCAP decided to pair the volumes and draw them together, architecturally as well as conceptually. Both 'twins' have an L-shaped floorplan which widens at the angle. In addition, the volumes broaden towards the ground floor and taper off at the top; this made it possible to create vides in the interior, and led to the buildings’ distinctively stepped outline. “The buildings have been carefully ‘split’ around the courtyard garden, and interact with each other because they are neatly stacked. Such a set-up also allows for contact between the residents. Because in designing The Twins, we wanted to create more than just housing. We wanted to create a community," says Irma van Oort, partner at KCAP.
KCAP并没有设计两座独立的建筑，而是决定将这些体量配对，并将它们在建筑和概念上结合在一起。这两个“双胞胎”都有一个l型的平面，随着角度的增大而变宽。此外，建筑体量向一楼扩展，在顶部逐渐缩小;这使得在室内制作视频成为可能，并形成了建筑独特的阶梯轮廓。“这些建筑围绕庭院花园被仔细地‘分割’，因为它们整齐地堆叠在一起，所以彼此之间相互影响。这样的设置也允许居民之间的联系。因为在设计双胞胎时，我们想要创造的不仅仅是住房。我们想创建一个社区，”KCAP合伙人厄玛•范•奥尔特表示。

On the inside, the vides provide ample light, air and space. Together with the corridors - which run along the entire length of the building, and have triple the height of the entrance hallways as their starting point - this makes for generous interior spaces where people can connect. “Here, you won’t find any bare, anonymous passages only faced with doors, but large open spaces and spacious halls with light coming in from above. You can see how people arrive, make their way through the building, come home. This creates a sense of belonging, not just with your immediate neighbours, but with all your fellow residents," says Irma van Oort.
在内部，视频提供了充足的光线、空气和空间。加上走廊——沿着整个建筑的长度，入口走廊的高度是起点的三倍——这就形成了宽敞的内部空间，人们可以在这里联系。“在这里，你找不到任何光秃秃的、没有名字的只有门的通道，而是宽敞的空地和宽敞的大厅，光线从上面射进来。你可以看到人们如何到达，如何穿过大楼，如何回家。这创造了一种归属感，不仅与你的邻居，而且与所有的居民，”厄玛·范·奥尔特说。

The entrances have been set back from the facade, but are transparent and completely clad in gold anodized aluminium, automatically drawing the light upwards. The golden glow, the warmly lit galleries and the light from above ensure that the spaciousness and liveliness of the interior world can be perceived from the outside. The golden wall panelling extends throughout the entire ground floor; colour-coordinated civic numbers and doorbells enhance the sense of opulence.
入口从立面向后设置，但是透明的，完全覆盖着金色阳极氧化铝，自动将光线向上吸引。金色的光芒，温暖的照明画廊和上方的光线确保了从外部可以感知到室内世界的宽敞和活泼。金色的镶板延伸到整个一楼;颜色协调的市民号码和门铃增强了富裕的感觉。

The space between the two volumes is an essential part of the design. The communal courtyard garden, which was designed by Buro Sant en Co, is surrounded by stepped, stacked balconies. Not only do these staggered outdoor spaces guarantee optimal sunlight and privacy: each individual balcony is also clad with vertically planted balcony walls. Together, these constitute a continuous green facade. Combined with the courtyard garden, this creates a rich, valley-like green inner world that is unique to The Twins.
两个体量之间的空间是设计的重要组成部分。公共庭院花园由Buro Sant en Co设计，周围是阶梯式的堆叠阳台。这些交错的户外空间不仅保证了最佳的阳光和隐私:每个单独的阳台也覆盖了垂直种植的阳台墙。这些共同构成了一个连续的绿色立面。结合庭院花园，这创造了一个丰富的，山谷般的绿色内部世界，这是The Twins独特的。

The green walls, however, are more than just a natural feature: by extending the courtyard garden upwards, the feeling that both buildings belong together is amplified. Because the green facades are visible from the street, they make for an arresting and inviting gesture. At the same time, this specific setup provides a certain degree of seclusion. The courtyard garden is open to all, yet its vertical continuity makes it a physical part of the adjacent housing. The space clearly belongs to the residents, and it contributes to the sense of community within The Twins.
然而，绿色的墙壁不仅仅是一个自然特征:通过向上延伸庭院花园，这两个建筑的归属感被放大了。因为从街道上就可以看到绿色的立面，它们构成了一种引人注目和诱人的姿态。同时，这种特定的设置提供了一定程度的隔离。庭院花园对所有人开放，但其垂直连续性使其成为相邻住宅的物理部分。这个空间显然是属于居民的，它有助于The Twins的社区意识。

Towards the street, the use of brick and deep-set windows provides the buildings with a robust and cohesive appearance; this sense of visual unity is strengthened by the facade grid. The triple-height entrance areas offer a glimpse of the golden glow within; together with the light grey brickwork with contrasting champagnecoloured accents, this ensures that the ensemble has a look and feel that is both rugged and luxurious. “We deliberately chose to design two volumes that make one single statement. The Twins belong together, one cannot exist without the other - just like real twins. Twins also tend to look alike on first sight, but when you get to know them better you can see their subtle differences - and the same applies to these buildings,” explains Irma van Oort.
面向街道，砖和深嵌窗户的使用为建筑提供了坚固而有凝聚力的外观;这种视觉上的统一感通过立面网格得到加强。三层高的入口区域可以瞥见内部的金色光芒;加上浅灰色砖砌与香槟颜色的对比，这确保了整个团队既有粗犷和豪华的外观和感觉。“我们刻意选择设计两个体量，表达单一的观点。The Twins属于一起，一个不能离开另一个存在-就像真正的双胞胎。Twins第一眼看起来也很像，但当你更了解他们的时候，你就会发现他们的细微差别——这同样适用于这些建筑，”厄玛·范·奥尔特解释道。

The two volumes, comprising a total of 149 apartments, were designed on behalf of OCO (Ontwikkelcombinatie Overhoeks, Amvest). With The Twins, Amsterdam obtained a unique green residential ensemble, an oasis in the middle of the city's dynamics.
这两个体量共包含149套公寓，代表OCO (Ontwikkelcombinatie Overhoeks, Amvest)设计。通过双胞胎，阿姆斯特丹获得了一个独特的绿色住宅组合，是城市活力中心的绿洲。

Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Client: OCO (Development Combination Overhoeks, Amvest)
Year: 2017 - 2022
Status: Realized
Program: 546m2, 149 apartments with various residential typologies, outdoor spaces, three-dimensional
courtyard, 97 underground parking spaces and storage rooms
Architect: KCAP
Collaborators: Buro Sant en Co (landscape), Copijn Boomspecialisten BV (green walls)
Photographs: © Ossip van Duivenbode
Drawings: © KCAP
Note for the editor / not for publication
KCAP is a leading international design firm specialized in architecture, urbanism and landscape architecture. KCAP was founded in 1989 by Kees Christiaanse and is led today by seven partners: Xavier Blaringhem, Jeroen Dirckx, Ruurd Gietema, Anouk Kuitenbrouwer, Irma van Oort, Ute Schneider and Edward Schuurmans. KCAP holds offices in Rotterdam (NL), Zurich (CH) and Shanghai (CN) and works with a staff of more than 125 talented international professionals on a wide range of projects throughout Europe and Asia.

The Twins, a residential ensemble like a green valley by KCAP
Rotterdam, 24 November 2022 - October saw the completion of The Twins, a residential ensemble designed by KCAP. The project consists of two robust volumes set around a communal courtyard garden. Stepped green balconies, combined with the sturdy materialization and luxurious detailing, makes for a sensorially rich ensemble, like a three-dimensional oasis right in the middle of Amsterdam.

The Twins is part of ‘Aan het IJ’, the redevelopment of the former Shell site in Amsterdam-Noord into a new neighbourhood for living, learning and working. The ensemble is situated on two L-shaped plots, at a pivotal position within the larger area. It was important for the buildings to have the same recognizable scale as their surroundings. The prominent location, however, also called for a strong architectural gesture.
The Twins是“Aan het IJ”项目的一部分，该项目将阿姆斯特丹北部的前壳牌基地改造为一个新的居住、学习和工作社区。整体建筑位于两个l形地块上，位于较大区域内的关键位置。建筑与周围环境具有相同的可识别尺度是很重要的。然而，突出的位置也需要一个强烈的建筑姿态。

Instead of designing two separate buildings, KCAP decided to pair the volumes and draw them together, architecturally as well as conceptually. Both 'twins' have an L-shaped floorplan which widens at the angle. In addition, the volumes broaden towards the ground floor and taper off at the top; this made it possible to create vides in the interior, and led to the buildings’ distinctively stepped outline. “The buildings have been carefully ‘split’ around the courtyard garden, and interact with each other because they are neatly stacked. Such a set-up also allows for contact between the residents. Because in designing The Twins, we wanted to create more than just housing. We wanted to create a community," says Irma van Oort, partner at KCAP.
KCAP并没有设计两座独立的建筑，而是决定将这些体量配对，并将它们在建筑和概念上结合在一起。这两个“双胞胎”都有一个l型的平面，随着角度的增大而变宽。此外，建筑体量向一楼扩展，在顶部逐渐缩小;这使得在室内制作视频成为可能，并形成了建筑独特的阶梯轮廓。“这些建筑围绕庭院花园被仔细地‘分割’，因为它们整齐地堆叠在一起，所以彼此之间相互影响。这样的设置也允许居民之间的联系。因为在设计双胞胎时，我们想要创造的不仅仅是住房。我们想创建一个社区，”KCAP合伙人厄玛•范•奥尔特表示。

On the inside, the vides provide ample light, air and space. Together with the corridors - which run along the entire length of the building, and have triple the height of the entrance hallways as their starting point - this makes for generous interior spaces where people can connect. “Here, you won’t find any bare, anonymous passages only faced with doors, but large open spaces and spacious halls with light coming in from above. You can see how people arrive, make their way through the building, come home. This creates a sense of belonging, not just with your immediate neighbours, but with all your fellow residents," says Irma van Oort.
在内部，视频提供了充足的光线、空气和空间。加上走廊——沿着整个建筑的长度，入口走廊的高度是起点的三倍——这就形成了宽敞的内部空间，人们可以在这里联系。“在这里，你找不到任何光秃秃的、没有名字的只有门的通道，而是宽敞的空地和宽敞的大厅，光线从上面射进来。你可以看到人们如何到达，如何穿过大楼，如何回家。这创造了一种归属感，不仅与你的邻居，而且与所有的居民，”厄玛·范·奥尔特说。

The entrances have been set back from the facade, but are transparent and completely clad in gold anodized aluminium, automatically drawing the light upwards. The golden glow, the warmly lit galleries and the light from above ensure that the spaciousness and liveliness of the interior world can be perceived from the outside. The golden wall panelling extends throughout the entire ground floor; colour-coordinated civic numbers and doorbells enhance the sense of opulence.
入口从立面向后设置，但是透明的，完全覆盖着金色阳极氧化铝，自动将光线向上吸引。金色的光芒，温暖的照明画廊和上方的光线确保了从外部可以感知到室内世界的宽敞和活泼。金色的镶板延伸到整个一楼;颜色协调的市民号码和门铃增强了富裕的感觉。

The space between the two volumes is an essential part of the design. The communal courtyard garden, which was designed by Buro Sant en Co, is surrounded by stepped, stacked balconies. Not only do these staggered outdoor spaces guarantee optimal sunlight and privacy: each individual balcony is also clad with vertically planted balcony walls. Together, these constitute a continuous green facade. Combined with the courtyard garden, this creates a rich, valley-like green inner world that is unique to The Twins.
两个体量之间的空间是设计的重要组成部分。公共庭院花园由Buro Sant en Co设计，周围是阶梯式的堆叠阳台。这些交错的户外空间不仅保证了最佳的阳光和隐私:每个单独的阳台也覆盖了垂直种植的阳台墙。这些共同构成了一个连续的绿色立面。结合庭院花园，这创造了一个丰富的，山谷般的绿色内部世界，这是The Twins独特的。

The green walls, however, are more than just a natural feature: by extending the courtyard garden upwards, the feeling that both buildings belong together is amplified. Because the green facades are visible from the street, they make for an arresting and inviting gesture. At the same time, this specific setup provides a certain degree of seclusion. The courtyard garden is open to all, yet its vertical continuity makes it a physical part of the adjacent housing. The space clearly belongs to the residents, and it contributes to the sense of community within The Twins.
然而，绿色的墙壁不仅仅是一个自然特征:通过向上延伸庭院花园，这两个建筑的归属感被放大了。因为从街道上就可以看到绿色的立面，它们构成了一种引人注目和诱人的姿态。同时，这种特定的设置提供了一定程度的隔离。庭院花园对所有人开放，但其垂直连续性使其成为相邻住宅的物理部分。这个空间显然是属于居民的，它有助于The Twins的社区意识。

Towards the street, the use of brick and deep-set windows provides the buildings with a robust and cohesive appearance; this sense of visual unity is strengthened by the facade grid. The triple-height entrance areas offer a glimpse of the golden glow within; together with the light grey brickwork with contrasting champagnecoloured accents, this ensures that the ensemble has a look and feel that is both rugged and luxurious. “We deliberately chose to design two volumes that make one single statement. The Twins belong together, one cannot exist without the other - just like real twins. Twins also tend to look alike on first sight, but when you get to know them better you can see their subtle differences - and the same applies to these buildings,” explains Irma van Oort.
面向街道，砖和深嵌窗户的使用为建筑提供了坚固而有凝聚力的外观;这种视觉上的统一感通过立面网格得到加强。三层高的入口区域可以瞥见内部的金色光芒;加上浅灰色砖砌与香槟颜色的对比，这确保了整个团队既有粗犷和豪华的外观和感觉。“我们刻意选择设计两个体量，表达单一的观点。The Twins属于一起，一个不能离开另一个存在-就像真正的双胞胎。Twins第一眼看起来也很像，但当你更了解他们的时候，你就会发现他们的细微差别——这同样适用于这些建筑，”厄玛·范·奥尔特解释道。

The two volumes, comprising a total of 149 apartments, were designed on behalf of OCO (Ontwikkelcombinatie Overhoeks, Amvest). With The Twins, Amsterdam obtained a unique green residential ensemble, an oasis in the middle of the city's dynamics.
这两个体量共包含149套公寓，代表OCO (Ontwikkelcombinatie Overhoeks, Amvest)设计。通过双胞胎，阿姆斯特丹获得了一个独特的绿色住宅组合，是城市活力中心的绿洲。

Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Client: OCO (Development Combination Overhoeks, Amvest)
Year: 2017 - 2022
Status: Realized
Program: 546m2, 149 apartments with various residential typologies, outdoor spaces, three-dimensional
courtyard, 97 underground parking spaces and storage rooms
Architect: KCAP
Collaborators: Buro Sant en Co (landscape), Copijn Boomspecialisten BV (green walls)
Photographs: © Ossip van Duivenbode
Drawings: © KCAP
Note for the editor / not for publication
KCAP is a leading international design firm specialized in architecture, urbanism and landscape architecture. KCAP was founded in 1989 by Kees Christiaanse and is led today by seven partners: Xavier Blaringhem, Jeroen Dirckx, Ruurd Gietema, Anouk Kuitenbrouwer, Irma van Oort, Ute Schneider and Edward Schuurmans. KCAP holds offices in Rotterdam (NL), Zurich (CH) and Shanghai (CN) and works with a staff of more than 125 talented international professionals on a wide range of projects throughout Europe and Asia.