The Bow

Positioned on the northern bank of the IJ River, directly across from Amsterdam Central Station, the area distinguishes itself as a dynamic, mixed-use neighborhood – close to the city center and urban amenities. Buildings and green spaces alternate in a campus-like layout, creating an attractive and diverse living environment.

The Bow is conceived as a monolithic brick structure with two graceful recesses on either side, forming green oases that enhance the residential quality. Each garden has its own unique atmosphere and provides access to a spacious entrance lobby on the ground floor. This lobby also functions as a communal living room for residents, offering space for social interaction. Beneath the building, an underground parking garage is available. In addition, there are two internal bicycle storage rooms and a retail unit on the ground floor facing Docklandseweg.

“The Bow is conceived as a monolithic brick structure with two graceful recesses on either side, forming green oases that enhance the residential quality.”

The building features an all-sided orientation, ensuring every façade is actively programmed. The carved-out recesses allow ample daylight to penetrate the relatively deep floor plan. Generous openings in the façade provide beautiful views of the inner gardens from the adjacent apartments and ensure optimal natural light throughout. The rectangular massing is rounded at the corners, giving The Bow an elegant appearance that complements the metropolitan character of Overhoeks.

On the upper floors, the building steps back, creating spacious rooftop terraces. This design also guarantees sufficient daylight at street level and to the lower floors of adjacent buildings. The 108 apartments are organized around three vertical circulation cores. This layout, along with the stepped design of the upper levels, results in a diverse range of apartment types and sizes.

The Bow exudes a crafted character through its refined and distinctive brick façades. These façades not only feature relief textures but also transition in color from top to bottom. A palette of four brick tones is used—gradually shifting from gray-brown at the ground level, through cappuccino, to glossy white at the penthouse level. Balconies and balustrades further enhance the metropolitan character of the building, introducing long horizontal lines that add a layer of ornamentation.

“A palette of four brick tones is used—gradually shifting from gray-brown at the ground level, through cappuccino, to glossy white at the penthouse level.”

The Bow is equipped with rooftop solar panels and a thermal energy storage (TES) system that heats the apartments in winter and provides cooling in summer. Ventilation with heat recovery ensures a comfortable and healthy indoor climate.

The generous façade openings allow abundant daylight to enter, reducing the need for artificial lighting. The variety in apartment types and sizes creates a mix of different residents, fostering social cohesion within the neighborhood. In addition, there are spacious and easily accessible bicycle parking facilities that promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.