On the roof of this nature-inclusive building block in the heart of Amsterdam, you can swim in between the dunes. No matter what, the wind blows high up in the sky. That inspired us to bring in the ultimate landscape to enjoy with stormy weather: the dunes. With wind-blown pine trees and lots of indigenous (and sometimes rare!) plants from the dunes that are made for these rare and harsh circumstances.
In the middle of this water-absorbing dune landscape lies a swimming pool, a bamboo – wooden terrace, and a beach pavilion, from where you can enjoy this surrealistic roof landscape under all conditions. Take the stairs or elevator and end up in a completely different word. On top of the the roof, in the middle of the city. Here, bees buzz, seagulls cry and the background noise of the city is like the rustling of the sea. Holidays, every day.
In this building people and the other nature live together. The former city floor is lifted and turned into a small patch of nature, the facades that are inhabited by plants, birds, insects ánd humans are extra. A piece urban landscape where both people and birds, bees, bats, butterflies live side by side. That way by building the world doesn’t become smaller, but bigger. We multiply landscapes!
Landscape Architecture: Buro Harro
Other designers involved in the design of landscape: Harro de Jong, Jan Eiting, Rene van Seumeren
Project location: Singelgracht, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Design year: 2018-2021
Year Built: 2021
Photos: Jeroen Musch
Design: Buro Harro /
