Design process
Borneo Sporenburg was designated a 'pre-Vinex' location in 1989 which meant the city of Amsterdam would receive a considerable contribution from national government for preparing the ground for building, on the condition that work on the development would begin before 1996. In order to fulfil this condition, Amsterdam formed the Eastern Docklands Area project group who became responsible for carrying out the project. Development of Borneo Sporenburg began in 1992.
The housing corporation collective, the New Deal Development Society, and the Urban Planning Service started the planning process. One of the most important decisions made was to develop the two peninsulas as one planning area. In order to achieve the large number of dwellings necessary, they referred to a study that the Amsterdam architect Rudy Uytenhaak had performed for Java Island, with stacked dwellings which each had a front door onto the street and its own exterior space. He showed that by organising the dwellings in a compact system of plots and small streets, higher densities could be achieved. This study was important in making it clear that Borneo Sporenburg did not have to be built as medium-size high rise structures.
Six architectural practices were asked to conduct a study into dwellings with ground-level entrances, investigating the possibilities for developing a good neighbourhood with pleasant, varied three or four storey residences. Following this research, a study project was commissioned for urban planning bureau Quadrat, architect Wytze Patjin and landscape architects, West 8, to draw up an urban planning proposal which included 600 residences with individual ground level entrances.
West 8 designed the masterplan for Borneo Sporenburg. They were successful in bringing diversity to the urban form within a familiar matrix of streets. Over 100 architects were involved, working within West 8's design framework.
The masterplan set strict yet imaginative rules for the development, including guidelines for streetscape, parking, private open space, storey height and plot width. The masterplan was based on a new approach towards the familiar demands of single-family houses - generous private outdoor space, a secure parking space, safety and individuality. West 8 was successful in creating a framework for high density living that satisfies all the demands of a conventional household.
The development of Borneo Spoenburg has been a complicated and difficult process. There has been considerable experimentation in the legal construction of New Deal and in the architectural and urban planning sense. Choosing the urban planning proposal from West 8 was a choice for the new, for the unknown. Never before in the Netherlands has there been an experiment with such a high density in dwellings with individual, ground-level entrances.
