When you walk southwards down Beethovenstraat, under the A10, you’ll pass the iconic Valley development. But after that, all you’ll see is an expanse of bare ground. But from 2023 onwards, that bare ground will be the location for Ravel, a low-traffic residential area with around 1,350 homes, mainly for families. Tic-Tac-Toe will be the first residential complex. Its earthy tones will help it to fit into its environment perfectly. But the building won’t blend into the background, thanks to the striking interplay of lines in its facade and striking balconies. But perhaps more importantly, it will be home to 75 apartments of an average size of 80 square metres, and the majority will be offered to middle-income families first. Marieke Van Doorninck of the City of Amsterdam explains: ‘Many families with young children are moving out of Amsterdam. This neighbourhood will be perfect for families – the size of the homes, the green, car-free layout, the proximity of a school, a sports complex and public transport. And increasingly, Zuidas is being integrated into the rest of the city.’
Flexible and sustainable living
The apartments in Tic-Tac-Toe are designed to be flexible. The floor plan, which consists of rooms that are almost square, measuring 3.3 metres by 3 meters – can be adjusted using movable walls to create extra rooms. Or you can make fewer, but larger rooms too, of course. In short, the homes can be adapted to every ‘life stage’ of the family, and no two houses in the building need to be the same.
Neighbourhood living room
The building has other details too. There are shared spaces on each floor which the residents themselves can choose what to do with. They could be used as guest rooms or areas for remote working. The ground floor will be no less than 7.5 metres tall. That will provide space for facilities like a bicycle shed, a living room and catering facilities. This ground floor, accessible to everyone, will transition almost seamlessly into the public space outside. It’s like a living room for the neighbourhood.
Animals and plants too
Not only people, but also animals, insects and plants will be welcome in Tic-Tac-Toe. For example, there will be shelters underneath the balconies, as well as climbing plants, special planters for collecting rainwater and space for various nest boxes. Photochromic solar panels in the facade will generate energy.
Car-free residential area
Tic-Tac-Toe is an Oostmeijer Projectontwikkeling project. The design is by VMX Architects and DS Landscape Architects. Construction work will start in 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2025. The new, car-free residential district of Ravel, in which this residential complex will be located, set in green space, is located between the Goed Genoeg sports park – home of AFC football club – and De Boelelaan.
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