ZUIDAS AMSTERDAM

  
   
 
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

City of Amsterdam

  
 
   

The Amsterdam Zuidas region is situated on both sides of the A10 South ring road between the Amstel and Schinkel rivers, and has the Zuid/WTC Station in its centre. The project area forms the connection between the attractive residential areas Zuid [Amsterdam South] and Buitenveldert in the ZuiderAmstel district. Thanks to its favourable location in relation to Schiphol Airport and the centre of Amsterdam, coupled with the short travel times due to the convergence of roads, trains, trams and buses, the Zuidas is a highly attractive choice for people and companies to situate their activities. The fact that the ABN AMRO and ING banks have chosen the Zuidas as the location for their head offices is a clear indication of the region’s success.

The municipality of Amsterdam’s ambition

In order to create a new stretch of city within a city, the municipality of Amsterdam wants to move 1.2 kilometres of infrastructure underground (ring roads, rail and underground tracks). This so-called ‘basement’ construction would not only reunite the area that is currently transected by roads and rails but also connect the Berlage plan (Amsterdam South) with that of Van Eesteren (Buitenveldert), thus creating an expansive new area for construction. Due to the excellent location with relation to Schiphol and Amsterdam centre and the merging of roads, rail tracks and tram and bus lines, the Zuidas is especially appealing to companies and private individuals wishing to base themselves here, and is a much sought-after location for both national and international companies. Developing the Zuidas into an internationally competitive business location is seen as one of the primary aims within the framework of the northern part of the Dutch Delta Metropolis (Hoofddorp, Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam Zuidas, Amsterdam South-East and Almere). Furthermore, the Municipality of Amsterdam has set out objectives regarding the residential quota, the facilities influencing the quality of living and the area’s accessibility. To succeed in developing the Zuidas into a high-quality living and working environment, it is important to transfer the main infrastructure underground. By placing motorways and rail tracks underground, approximately 1,000,000 m2 of additional surface area can be made available for development. This will also greatly reduce air and noise pollution.

New Key Project

The Zuidas plans fit in with Dutch government policy of turning locations served by the high-speed train link (HSL) into intermodal transport hubs and creating a prestigious urban centre with top-quality residential, commercial and recreational areas. In mid-1998, the government acknowledged the potential of the Zuidas by nominating the project "New Key Project". here the hightgovernment policy of creating trnaprivate. own sake alongside the acceptance out of respect for The Th

In terms of numbers of passengers passing through, the Zuid/WTC Station will become the fifth in the Netherlands and as such will be transformed into a sensational transport intersection. In order to accommodate all travellers to and from the station, a unique mobility node will be visually embedded in the city and its image. The station will grow into an intermodal transport hub, served by international, national, regional and local public transport lines. The HSL, intercity trains, the metro, tram and bus, as well as taxis, cyclists and pedestrians will all be smoothly accommodated both in and around the new station.

Underground infrastructure

On 10 July 2001, the government and the Municipality of Amsterdam signed an agreement setting out their joint ambitions for the further development of the Zuidas. These ambitions involve renovating the Zuid/WTC Station, increasing the capacity for rail transport, expanding the A10 South ring road and building a new urban centre. The station shall be expanded to accommodate six tracks instead of two, and the A10 South ring road will be widened by adding a lane on either side.

In order to create ‘a new stretch of city within the city’, the government and Municipality of Amsterdam want to move 1.2 kilometres of infrastructure underground. This plan is called the ‘basement model’. The technical and financial aspects of the basement model are currently undergoing detailed examination.

New city centre

The Zuidas has to become a complete, compact and layered city, where living, working and relaxing enjoy a balanced co-existence. The available space must be used intensely and flexibly, with the individual as the central focus. In order to achieve this, a
50-50 ratio of living and working space is the aim. Transferring the infrastructure underground will constitute such a reduction in noise pollution as to make an attractive living, working and recreational environment possible in the whole of the Zuidas area.

The Zuidas plans encompass more than a million square metres of office space, approximately 8,500 residences (982,000 m2) and 263,000 square metres of gross floor space for both commercial and non-commercial facilities. Of the approximately 8,500 residences due to be constructed, 30% shall be social housing for rent. In time, some 12,000 more people shall live in the Zuidas than today and an additional 50,000 come to work here. To ensure that the various functions complement each other well, particular attention is being paid to the way in which the functions can be mixed.

Accessibility

A high concentration of urbanised development is planned for the Zuidas. The envisaged concentration will place high demands on the efficiency of the city's public transport network. A strict car-parking policy aims to restrict the incoming flow of cars. The three functions - residential, commercial and recreational – each have their own norm for the maximum permitted number of parking spaces per m2 of surface area.

Impression of the new station

When the north-south line is operational and the HSL is being served by inland shuttles along the horseshoe-shaped route linking Breda, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Utrecht and Arnhem, 3 million people will be able to reach the Zuidas within 3 quarters of an hour by public transport. This will make the Zuidas, together with Amsterdam Central Station, the most accessible place in the Netherlands.

Development strategy

It will be several decades before the potential of the Zuidas has been fully realised. For this reason, the Zuidas cannot be developed on the basis of a blueprint, and is instead the subject of a development strategy. This leaves room for interim adaptation of plans according to changing social developments and new insights, whilst maintaining the points of departure with regard to quality. Another advantage of this approach is that demands and needs can be addressed and incorporated in the plans, as consultation with local public groups and market parties takes place on a regular basis.

Progress report

Since adopting the Zuidas Master Plan in 1998, the project got off to a flying start. By mid-2002, 150,000 m2 of surface area were already completed and 200,000 m2 were under construction. The most optimistic expectations from 1998 were thus far exceeded.

250,000 m2 have since become operational. The offices in use include the international headquarters of the ABN AMRO Bank and the ING Group and a thoroughly modernised and expanded Amsterdam World Trade Centre.

The ultimate quality element needed to turn this location into an environment for basing international business will be the realisation of the tunnel model. This will make space on the city grounds available for development, whilst also reuniting two districts, reducing noise and other types of pollution and regaining more room for constructing residences and the accompanying facilities. A new city centre where people can live, work and meet.