AM, the property development arm of Dutch construction firm Royal BAM Group, is buying the former Bijlmer prison in Amsterdam in a consortium with Singapore-based AT Capital and Amsterdam-based Cairn Real Estate for €84 mln.
The consortium together with designers OMA, FABRICations and LOLA Landscape will develop a new, low traffic district called the Bajes Quarter on the east side of the Amstel river with approximately 1,350 homes.The site was purchased from the Rijksvastgoedbedrijf (the Central Government Real Estate Agency).
The new resi district will comprise both owner-occupied and rental units including affordable housing for starters and care homes. Five of the prison towers will be demolished, one will be transformed into a 'green tower’ with a vertical park and urban farming while the existing head office will be transformed into an international art and design centre. There will also be catering facilities and a healthcare centre.
All of the new buildings will be completely energy-neutral and some 98% of the prison’s building materials will be reused. Concrete and cement will be broken up with new techniques and cycled while old cell doors will be used to make a bridge. Even the prison bars will return as balcony fences.
Most of the energy needed will come from solar panels. In addition, wind energy comes from roof elements with built-in wind turbines. The organic waste from the district will be transformed into electricity. Heating in winter and cooling in summer will be generated by heat pumps in the buildings and each house will have a hot water tap linking to a sustainable heating system.
The site comprises an area of 7.5 hectares and the existing prison complex has a surface area of nearly 85,000 m2. The prison is currently in use as a centre for asylum seekers.
