Jonas
Amsterdam
Architects: Orange Architects // Project size: 29.950 m² GFA // Completion: 2023 // Awards: BREEAM Award 2025 in two categories: Best New Construction – Residential+ People’s Choice Awards – Residential // Concrete Award 2024 – Housing Construction Category // Best Building of the Year 2023 (BNA) - Jury price // Sustainability certification: BREEAM Outstanding (Design), BREEAM Outstanding (Post-Construction)
The ‘Jonas’ residential complex is situated in the heart of IJburg, Amsterdam. IJburg is one of the artificial islands on the outskirts of the city, home mainly to families. It is laid out around a marina. The new residential complex houses commercial and social facilities, as well as a diverse public space where outdoor and indoor areas flow seamlessly into one another. A three-dimensional rock landscape on the square, an island in the canal, a woodland in the courtyard and a rooftop beach with a water feature and barbecue area create a holiday atmosphere all year round. These distinctive spaces invite you to discover the story of Jonas and the whale. A story of adventure and intimacy, of protection, security and cosiness within a ‘large body’. The building was designed by Orange Architects, commissioned by Amvest and developed in collaboration with Felixx landscape architects and planners, the construction company Ballast Nedam West and ABT.
The shared goal of the developer and the project team was to create a residential building that is highly sustainable both technically and socially. They succeeded. Jonas was awarded the highest achievable sustainability certificate, BREEAM Outstanding. ABT was responsible for the entire engineering, sustainability consultancy and structural design. Jonas comprises 83 owner-occupied homes and 190 rental flats, as well as numerous facilities such as restaurants, a cinema, a public ‘living room’, a relaxation area, workspaces, guest rooms, a forest terrace, a rooftop beach and shared cars for communal use – some of which are also available to residents from the neighbourhood.
Das gemeinsame Ziel des Bauträgers und des Projektteams war es, ein Wohngebäude zu schaffen, das sowohl technisch als auch gesellschaftlich äußerst nachhaltig ist. Das ist gelungen. Jonas erhielt das höchste erreichbare Nachhaltigkeitszertifikat BREEAM Outstanding. ABT war für das gesamte Engineering, die Nachhaltigkeitsberatung und die bauliche Ausarbeitung verantwortlich. Jonas umfasst 83 Eigenheime und 190 Mietwohnungen sowie zahlreiche Einrichtungen wie Gastronomie, Kino, öffentliches „Wohnzimmer“, Entspannungsbereich, Arbeitsräume, Gästezimmer, Waldterrasse, Dachstrand und Gemeinschaftsautos zur gemeinschaftlichen Nutzung und dies teilweise auch für die Anwohner aus der Nachbarschaft.
Jonas stands for a new way of living: consciously, sustainably and socially. It is about encounter, connection and a strong community.
Jonas is the first concrete residential building to receive the BREEAM Outstanding certificate in the Netherlands. The integral design was realised according to the BREEAM criterion with at least 10 percent less environmental impact than a comparable residential building - a quarter of the aggregates were replaced by granulate from demolition concrete. Rich greenery, an energy-efficient concept for the technical building equipment and the sustainable use of materials make Jonas a healthy and light building. The use of heat pumps and solar collectors, the maximum use of daylight through a glass roof to the use of rainwater for sanitary purposes and cooling. And very special: a roof garden, with flowing water and a great view.
Scope of services: Integral advice // structural engineering, building services engineering, glass engineering, sustainability consultancy, building physics engineering, fire protection planning, cost management, geotechnical engineering
Photos: Sebastian van Damme
