Wo-Zo-Co AGo-Go

A look at MVRDV’s WoZoCo apartment building

By Gaines Solomon

As the world popula-tion grows upward and outward, cities try what they can to pre-serve what is impor-tant to them. Amster-dam is facing an ever growing problem of density, effecting the condition of its green spaces.

MVRDV, a Dutch ar-chitecture firm head-ed by Winy Mass, Jacob Van Rijs, and Nathalie de Vries, is a very dynamic group in their attempts to solve the architectural problems of today.

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MVRDV’s WoZoCo project is an apart-ment building for the elderly intended to have 100 units. Due to Dutch regulations on green space day-lighting, the building could only be built large enough for 87 units and still fit onto its available foot-print. MVRDV solved this dilemma by add-ing the remaining 13 units to the exterior of building without them touching the ground.

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The design concept required a series of single and double story cantilevers jut-ting out of the north-ern facade. These protruded units are essentially the same size as the others, meaning the canti-levers are about the same length as the main building.

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To achieve such a large cantilever, the architects employed a modified form of a pratt truss. These trusses are support-ed by large concrete columns as well as beams that extend the length of the main structure.

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The pratt trusses used in the building have a series of di-agonal steel braces. These members, along with the top chords, deal with the tension while the bot-tom chrords are sub-ject to compression. When using steel, this is a very efficient design with minimal size.

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The main structure is essentially a Mais-son - dom-ino design. The simplicity of the design and materials compensates for the expense of the canti-levered units

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The northern facade is clad with glass to contrast the wood ve-neer cantilevers from the main structure.

The Southern Facade is the fenestration side for most of the units. Variance of the units is achieved by the random place-ment of the windows and balconies. Re-ferred to as the ‘small talk’ zone, the fenes-tration is intended to mimic the northern facade on a smaller scale.

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Athenaum.com. April 27, 2007. www.athenaeum.ch/amster12.htm

MVRDV. ‘KM3: Excursions on Capacity.’ Actar, 2005

MVRDV. ‘FARMAX.’ Actar, 1999

Cse.polyu.edu. June 10, 2004. www.cse.polyu.edu.hk/~cecspoon/lwbt/Case_Studies/Wozoco/Wozoco.htm

MVRDV.nl. 2006. www.mvrdv.nl/_v2/projects/015_wozoco/index.html

Owlnet.rice.edu. March 26, 2006. www.owlnet.rice.edu/~arch214/wozos%20final.pdf

e-jjj.com. 2006. www. http://www.e-jjj.com/images/news/con-tent/20066240064160.jpg

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