OP-ZIJ/ UP-SIDE houses
Eight houses on an Island in Amsterdam, 1992-1996


A competition we won in 1992 on the outskirts of Amsterdam - you recognize the canals ... It was a competition for female architects; again something what one can expect to happen in Amsterdam only. It didn't keep most of the participants from bringing their male partners though.
There were 8 small Islands to divide; 5 containing 4 houses. 3 with 8 houses - we won what delivered us the first, larger and more beautiful Island of the lot.
'Op-Zij' (Up-Side in English) is the name of a Dutch feminist magazine (fig.), but we used or adopted it to differentiate between an 'inner' house with a 13° upwards [...]slanting roof - facing the waterfront; and a same structure slanting 13° sidewards - away from the orthogonal plan and opening to the landscape.
We played with wall sequences : on the straight orthogonal plan walls are white; the oblique walls however are done in  darkened wood (cedar).
The up-house has a split level inside - creating that extra space on a central courtyard - so that cars can park with their noses under the elevated kitchen. An awning gives those cars extra shade.
Again the split level in the up-house returns in the indention in the façade of the side-house. Up and side are also marked by inserting horizontal windows in white walls and vertical windows in the dark cedar walls.
Together they form 4 couples built in symmetry around the courtyard, the latter to be reached by a bridge.