Amsterdam's Alligator-Shaped Mixed Use Development Offers Unique Public and Private Spaces

The Albino Alligator is mixed-use project composed of five buildings that is designed to regenerate the Buiksloterham region in Amsterdam North. Rotterdam-based Maxwan architects designed each branch of the office to house a different part of the building's program, which resulted in an alligator-shaped building.Each building is used for a different purpose and forms a part of the alligator’s body. A series of public spaces including retail and offices forms the head, a strip of row houses forms the body, a residential tower serves as one of the legs, a tower of live-work studios serves as the second leg, and a fitness club makes up the tail. Each building is shaped by its structural and programmatic needs.

White is the dominant color for the project, which is composed of silver and grey materials like concrete, metal and glass. This “white-scape” benefits the project in many ways — for example, the white facade acts to reduce heat gain and cooling needs. Light is also reflected off surfaces and through windows to improve natural daylighting. Landscaping around the development and the park includes a series of ponds and dunes that infiltrate stormwater, preventing runoff and optimizing biodiversity. The white-scape also keeps the micro climate surrounding the buildings cool.

[via Inhabitat]