Rotterdam-based developer GetYourKikx has won the tender launched in June 2025. The developer worked with MoederscheimMoonen Architects to develop the vision for this plot, located at the corner of Gustav Mahlerlaan and Hildegard von Bingenstraat. Scala is the final element of the developments in the eastern part of Kenniskwartier. The building will stand on Florence Pricehof, alongside the already completed The Pulse of Amsterdam (homes and offices) and Stepstone (student housing), as well as the future residential towers Benten (student housing) and Ceci (private-sector rental homes).
Scala
With a mix of homes (60 mid-market and 13 private-sector rental homes) and a commercial ground floor designed to accommodate creative and cultural entrepreneurs, the building will become a meeting place for residents, visitors and makers alike. This is also reflected in its name: Scala, referring to a broad range of functions and possibilities.
Passageway
The ground floor – the plinth – will feature double-height pilasters incorporating 3D-printed ceramic elements by Studio RAP, described by the developer as a ‘connecting work of art’. A striking feature of the plinth is the vaulted passageway. This will make Scala not only the link between the neighbouring Benten and Stepstone buildings, but also a connection between the urban character of the building’s street-facing side and the green Florence Pricehof at the rear.
Living
The building layout accommodates a variety of home types, ranging from one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments to corner homes and several maisonettes with their own entrance from Florence Pricehof. The first floor will also provide shared amenity spaces, including a communal living room and a co-working space for residents.
Canyon
Rather than a traditional enclosed stairwell, the floors will be connected by a spacious ‘canyon’ featuring an open staircase route with abundant daylight, fresh air and greenery – Scala is also the Italian word for staircase or stairwell. The canyon will connect the homes on the front side of the building with the terraces, shared living spaces and Florence Pricehof at the rear.
Green cascade
The canyon continues on the outside of the building, where the previously mentioned terraces are arranged in a stepped configuration, creating generous space for light and air. Between the two sections of the corner building, greenery rises from ground level upwards through the development – a rich variety of planting and nature-inclusive features such as large planters, integrated nesting boxes and native vegetation. The idea is to create a natural transition to the public space, together with the passageway and the rear façade.
Future-proof
Sustainability has been an integral part of Scala from the very first sketch. Strategically positioned façade openings, balconies and outdoor spaces allow daylight to penetrate deep into the building. At the same time, these features support natural ventilation and provide solar shading, reducing the energy required for heating and cooling. The use of recycled steel, reusable floor materials and CO2-negative façade bricks helps limit material-related carbon emissions. Solar panels will be (partly) integrated into the façade, freeing up roof space for greenery, water retention and other climate-adaptive measures.
These are the building blocks of Scala, a development that, according to GetYourKikx, will become ‘not only a strong architectural addition to Zuidas, but also a future-proof, socially connected and climate-adaptive urban building’. Construction is currently scheduled to start no later than mid-2028, with completion expected in 2030.
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