Select Language

Symbiosis of living and working in Amsterdam

On the pulse of time. In Zuidas, a young residential and business district in the south of Amsterdam, the imposing "De Puls" building complex has been built. The block-style development with two superimposed towers, designed by VMX and MVSA Architects, combines office and residential use to perfection. The connecting base building complements the room program with numerous communal and public facilities. This creates a central meeting point for the surrounding neighborhood.

Shaya Fallahi

Architect and Partner

VMX Architects, about the choice of materials within the multifunctional building complex "De Puls":

"Every material is controversial. You could say that. But every material has its place."

Three-dimensional design

The striking three-dimensional design of the facade of the residential tower was a challenge when choosing the facade material. With StoCleyer B mineral resin brick slips, the desired authentic brick look could be realised as a continuous surface with a low weight on the residential tower.

  • ’De Puls" building complex with brick-look facade and metal grid facade

    A reference to the past
    The symbiosis of living and working by VMX Architects and MVSA Architects with reference to Amsterdam brick.
    Photo: © Ronald Tilleman, Rotterdam, NL

  • ‘De Puls’ building complex: Brick-look residential tower, office tower with metal facade

    Two slender towers rise above the base building of ‘De Puls’; a straight-lined office tower with a regular metal grid façade and a residential tower with a brick look that features bay-like projections and twists on the upper floors.
    Photo: © Ronald Tilleman, Rotterdam, NL

  • Residential tower of the ‘De Puls’ building complex with brick-look facade

    Brick reference "Old Amsterdam'
    Amsterdam's architectural history is referenced in the residential tower. Its sculptural forms and the design of a robust brick are inspired by the ‘Amsterdam School.
    Photo: © Ronald Tilleman, Rotterdam, NL

  • Portrait of Shaya Fallahi. architect and partner at VMX Architects.

    "We went to production three times to make samples with different colours to achieve the image you see now. Three different colours were mixed together so as not to create a uniform colour, as that would be too unnatural."
    Shaya Fallahi,VMX Architects, about tlouring of the Sto facade elements

  • Design model residential and office towers, development with inner courtyard

    Perimeter block development with inner courtyard
    The development is set back in the inner courtyard and gives the communal open space more room.

  • Green, lively inner courtyard of the ‘De Puls’ building complex in Amsterdam

    Private inner courtyard for residents
    A branched pathway and lush greenery support private use.
    Photo: © VMX Architects, Amsterdam, NL

  • Upper part of the ‘De Puls’ residential tower in brick look

    The upper part of the residential tower is also referred to as the ‘crown’ by the architects.

  • Revitalised base floor of the ‘De Puls’ building complex, catering area

    Lively base storeys
    The residential and work user groups overlap here with visitors to the various catering and leisure facilities.

  • Construction image wood/reinforced concrete: residential and office towers ‘De Puls’ Amsterdam

    Construction
    The project is realised as a hybrid construction with a mixture of reinforced concrete and timber frame construction. While the residential tower is a timber construction in the area of the standard storeys, a concrete construction was used for the penthouses with their large openings in the ‘crown’ area.

  • Construction of the “De Puls” residential tower: timber frame construction with EWIS and resin brick slips from Sto

    Timber frame construction with EWIS
    Due to the many variations with few repetitions, the planners decided in favour of a timber frame construction. They were combined with mineral wool insulation and mineral resin brick slips from Sto as the facade surface.

  • Three-dimensional facade design of the ‘De Puls’ residential tower with resin brick slips from Sto

    Three-dimensional design
    The facade elements are guided around the corners.

Placeholder photo

Get your free Case Study now!

More than 20 valuable project [insights] pages about the development of this multifunctional building complex! Find out everything – from design to construction, to comprehensive detailed solutions.

Request your Case Study

Symbiosis of opposites

The architectural design follows Yin and Yang – the Chinese symbol for a symbiosis of opposing forces. This symbol was implemented in architecture as a combination of residential and office use in two separate tower buildings. The two types of use are combined in the base construction.

  • Two towers, two identities

    The design motif of opposing forces is also continued on the facade: while the office building with its international character symbolises a building that could be located anywhere in the world, the residential tower consciously seeks a connection to the local architectural tradition.

    "We have made a building from somewhere and anywhere."
    Shaya Fallahi

    Brick facade of a residential building and metal facade of an office building
    Photo: © Ronald Tilleman, Rotterdam, NL
  • Varied facade design for a residential building Brick look from Sto
    Contrasting facades – a varied residential complex in brick design.
    Technical-looking metal facade of an office building with integrated photovoltaics
    And an office tower with a technically appealing metal facade and integrated photovoltaics.

  • Lively brick design

    Change of material: The reference to brick is implemented in the façade design in two different ways:

    • as glazed ceramic cladding in the lower two storeys of the podium (StoCera)

    • and as a prefabricated mineral façade element with a brick look for the upper storeys and the residential tower (StoCleyer B)

    Lively brick facade of a residential building, designed with resin brick slips from Sto
    Photo: © Ronald Tilleman, Rotterdam, NL
  • Homogeneous three-dimensional facade design with Sto resin brick slips in brick look
    Three-dimensional design: homogeneous three-dimensional surface
    Close-up of a brick-look facade, designed with Sto resin brick slips
    The bond and colouring of the facade elements, Photos: © Ronald Tilleman, Rotterdam, NL

Construction sign

Country
Netherlands
City
Amsterdam
Year Completed
2024
Architect
VMX Architects, Amsterdam, NL; MVSA Architects, Amsterdam, NL; DELVA Landscape Architecture & Urbanism, Amsterdam, NL
Owner
Vorm Development, Rotterdam, NL Edge Technologies, Amsterdam, NL
Applicator
`t Huis B. V., Schiedam, NL
Products
Facade insulation system (StoTherm Mineral), Resin brick slips (StoCleyer B)
Photos
Ronald Tillemann, Rotterdam, NL

Get your free Case Study now!

More than 20 valuable project [insights] pages about the development of this multifunctional building complex! Find out everything – from design to construction, to comprehensive detailed solutions.

Request your Case Study
© 2025 - All Rights Reserved