Student Housing Tower Blok 1 | GROUP A
The Netherlands-based GROUP A recently has completed the ‘Student Housing Tower Blok 1‘ in Presikhaaf, Arnhem, the Netherlands. The building is situated on an isolated location and surrounded by nature, it built to act as a landmark in Presikhaaf area.
The facade will be covered in paneling with a slightly differing finish, creating a subtle pattern. The dark brown colour gives the building a natural feel, and makes it fit into the surrounding ecological area.
GROUP A
+ Project description courtesy of GROUP A
Student housing tower Blok 1 serves as a landmark and a visual beacon of change and renewal for the Presikhaaf area. The buiding is part of a larger redevelopment scheme, which forsees in the partial demolition of post-war housing estates in the neighbouwhood making way for new, more upmarket, housing developements. Additionally, student housing is included in the scheme, as the presence of students will lead to differentiation and rejuvenation of the neighbourhood. Thus, the tower provides Presikhaaf with a much needed social impulse.
The ten story building is situated on an isolated site, surrounded by nature. Its solitary character is enhanced by the buildings’ all-round orientation and facade, which is punctuated by a large number of windows, making the building look bigger than it actually is.This particular fenestration makes sure no two dorms are the same.
The facade will be covered in paneling with a slightly differing finish, creating a subtle pattern. The dark brown colour gives the building a natural feel, and makes it fit into the surrounding ecological area.
The ground floor comprises support facilities for the students, technical areas and commercial units. Each of the nine upper floors is laid out with ten dorms. The top floor will be used as a communal roof terrace. Within the restricted budget, GROUP A has been able to create a number of high quality solutions, like the large windows on the corners and the roofterrace with its nice views.
+ Project credits / data
Project: Blok 1 Presikhaaf
Type: Student housing
Task description: Preliminary design, final design, technical design and specification, supervision, aesthetic monitoring
Team GROUP A: Adam Visser, Folkert van Hagen, Maarten van Bremen, Birgitta Rottmann, Mike von Tiesenhausen, Fatima El-bouyahyaoui, Jos Overmars, David Moreno Romero, Paulo Moreno, Nolly Vos, Edwin Larkens, Daniël Gijsbers, Niclas Frenning
Location: Arnhem
Country: the Netherlands
Start design: June 2005
Final acceptance: August 2009
Dimensions: 3.000 m2
Building costs: € 3.500.000,00
Client: Vivare Projecten BV
Photography: Scagliola/Brakkee
+ All images and drawings courtesy of GROUP A | Photo by Scagliola/Brakkee
- Ground Floor Plan
- Level 6 Floor Plan
- Level 9 Floor Plan
- Section A-A
- Section B-B
Category: Architecture, Residential, Selected
Comments (5)
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Sites That Link to this Post
- Netherlands | Blok 1 Presikhaaf | GROUP A - Arquitectura.pt | October 5, 2009































Pretty elevations + deathtrap escape stair = good architecture? Discuss.
I love the elevation pattern, and the plan is practical.
The elevations are very pretty, I agree, which is a miracle considering it took 13 architects 3 years to design it. The plans are beautifully presented, but more than a little perfunctory, some would say grim. The point I was trying to raise is that the NINE storeys above ground level are served by just ONE, narrow, mean little staircase i.e. this building is a fire trap, and it won’t look quite as pretty with flames shooting out of its carefully designed fenestration. UK building codes require a minimum of two escape stairs. Obviously the Dutch codes take a different approach to safety (parachutes?) My point is, by all means be inspired by the elevations but please please please don’t copy the plans.
I’d firstly concern the environmental, economic, ideal design and some other aspects but just good enough to fulfil the building codes….It is not the key aspect(building codes)as long as complied the minimum requirement. Architecture is about how architect deliver the idea to public and surrounding.