Following three years of construction, the multifunctional building The Pulse of Amsterdam has now been completed, the latest eyecatcher at the heart of the Kenniskwartier innovation district next to the A10 Zuid. More than just a building, it is set to be a vibrant area in which offices, housing, retail trade and entertainment can all be found under one roof. CEO Coen van Oostrom from EDGE, one of the two developers alongside VORM, puts it this way: ‘Traditional office areas can often be very quiet after working hours. In The Pulse of Amsterdam, we’re creating a dynamic area that brings together employment, housing and recreation, in a lively way, seven days a week.’
Housing, employment & leisure
This vibrant mixture results in some mind-boggling statistics. A residential tower with 21 floors and 200 apartments, 150 of them mid-market rental properties. An office tower with 24 floors and 360,000 sq. m. of office accommodation. A nine-screen cinema covering a total of 2,700 sq. m. of floor area. Some 725 sq. m. of hospitality & catering in the base of the building – with all the ingredients needed for a vibrant community. In addition, several public areas, including roof terraces, create a natural meeting place for residents and office workers. The jewel on the crown is a unique urban forest on the eighth floor, a place of calm among all of the hustle and bustle.
Kenniskwartier
In the years ahead, we are working with VU Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC to transform the Kenniskwartier in Zuidas into an exciting mixture that brings together a wide variety of different functions. In this neighbourhood (on the south side of the A10, between Parnassusweg/Buitenveldertselaan, A.J. Ernststraat and Amstelveenseweg), there will be around 2,700 homes alongside space for education and knowledge-related business, healthcare, culture, shops and hospitality & catering. Boasting The Pulse of Amsterdam, the new ADORE Research and Diagnostic Centre, the Rialto VU cinema and the Stepstone social housing project, Kenniskwartier is set to become a place where housing, interaction, inspiration and knowledge-sharing come together.
Innovative and sustainable
The design by architect firms MVSA and VMX is future-proof, with rooms that can be adapted to meet the users’ changing requirements. The materials used are environmentally friendly. Containing a lot of prefab elements, much of the building has been built using biocomposite. With so many facilities combined under one roof, users will often not even need to leave the building – preventing unnecessary car use in the area.
The Pulse of Amsterdam is completely self-sufficient and energy neutral and will be awarded a BREEAM Outstanding certificate after completion. It features solar panels in the office tower façade that generate energy and integrated smart systems that keep the building’s energy consumption to a minimum. Temperatures in the building are regulated by means of an energy-efficient thermal energy storage system that is shared with the adjacent residential building Stepstone.
According to VORM CEO Hans Meurs, it is a building to be proud of: ‘What we’ve built here is an icon. It’s now time to put this amazing new place in Amsterdam to good use.’
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Get in touch with usAmsterdam is known for its beautiful and inspiring public spaces. However, this particular piece of architecture (forest) feels quite impractical. I really wish there were a few cozy benches instead — something more inviting and useful.
Dear Ruta, The city council of Amsterdam was not involved in the design of this park. The developer of the Pulse made the design of the park it's part of The Pulse. Kind regards,