Rijswijk Municipal Authority and AM Wonen have signed a contract for the redevelopment of the town hall site, where AM (formerly Amstelland MDC) is to build 207 apartments stacked in two towers, 110m and 75m tall. The development also incorporates cultural and leisure functions, creating a lively central zone with its own identity in the heart of Rijswijk, and an underground car park for 370 cars. The capitalcost will be â¬80 million.
Since the municipal authorityâs recent relocation to new offices, the old Rijswijk town hall on Generaal Spoorlaan has been redundant. Situated in park-like surroundings in the center of Rijswijk, close to the Rijswijkse Bos estate, it offers excellent development opportunities. On the basis of a competition among a number of developers, the municipal council selected AM for the project in June 2004. A survey among residents showed that they also favoured AMâs proposal. AM has spent the intervening months refining its plan, in close consultation with the municipal authority. The changes, which related mainly to town planning aspects, the addition of a cinema and land costs, were approved by the municipal council in December 2004.
Historical references
AMâs plan, which is the result of collaboration between its in-house design consultants T+T Design and architects Van Heerden & Partners in The Hague, makes clear references to the history of the site, with the two apartment blocks restoring a sense of baroque symmetry. Improved sightlines, affording residents better views of the Rijswijkse Bos estate, are a feature of the layout. The municipal authority and AM have also agreed to invest jointly in the redevelopment of the estate, in which each party is investing â¬300,000. Both parties see this project providing a valuable stimulus to improvement of the area.
Source: AM
