Location
Eemlandstraat 2, Amsterdam Kop Zuidas
Description
54 residential care units and facilities for individuals with dementia or somatic complaints; 3 apartments are suitable for living with a partner.
Client
Cordaan Care Organization
Completion
september 2021
Nomination
Amsterdam New Building Prize 2021
ARC Interior Award 2020 (the Architect)
Comfortable living for people with dementia
Zuidoever Amsterdam is an innovative residential care facility by Cordaan, designed for elderly people with dementia and somatic conditions. The concept emphasizes independence and dignity, reducing care needs. The intuitive building layout stimulates social interaction and active behavior.
Living around a green courtyard
Apartments are arranged in a U-shape around a central courtyard, partially covered with a greenhouse. This allows residents to experience the outdoors throughout the year. Surrounding the garden are open kitchens, meeting areas, and activity spaces.
Intuitive design and sensory orientation
Instead of traditional corridors, meandering zones and circular routes encourage spontaneous encounters. Differences in light, color, sightlines, and tactile natural materials support orientation. Acoustic variation—from calm near apartments to lively in social areas—guides movement naturally.
Proven benefits and future flexibility
After three years, the design has shown measurable benefits: reduced care needs, lower medication use, and decreased staff absenteeism. The building is also future-proof: its flexible structure allows for easy conversion into independent apartments around the courtyard.
A replicable model for elderly care
Although originally developed for a more affluent group, similar projects such as DSV Salem Katwijk and Leythenrode Leiderdorp demonstrate that this model is feasible across different target groups, thanks to favorable net-to-gross ratios.
Zuidoever nominated for the Amsterdam New Building Prize 2021. The video was created by AT5