Westerdokseiland Wins National Neprom Prize

Amsterdam’s Westerdokseiland project has won this year’s national Neprom Prize for Location Development.

Winner by unanimous choice

Five projects were short listed by the Neprom jury, which was chaired by Ed Nijpels. Westerdokseiland was ultimately chosen as the winner over De Markt (Hardenberg), Pieter Vreedeplein (Tilburg), Mosae Forum (Maastricht) and De Dobbelman (Nijmegen). Ed Nijpels announced that the Westerdokseiland was the jury’s unanimous choice at a press conference held at the Haarlemse Philharmonie.

Westerdokseiland project

The City of Amsterdam has been participating in the Westerdokseiland project together with a number of private parties: Lingotto, Amvest, Ymere, Bouwfonds Ontwikkeling, Smits Bouwbedrijf, Eigen Haard, Kondor Wessels, Nijhuis Bouw, Dageraad en Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Apeldoorn.

The project has transformed a former train depot, west of Amsterdam’s Central Station, into a residential area with an ambitious programme.

Successful recipe

The Neprom Prize jury assessed the co-operation between the authorities and the private companies, and also the extent of the project’s success in terms of architectural, urban, and commercial goals. In its report, the jury stated: ‘The fact that a dozen players (developers and housing corporations, spread over three consortia) maintained close contact over a period of more than a decade may have been significant for the success of the co-operation.

Also, almost all the people who were involved at the beginning of the project continued to remain involved in it. That speaks volumes about the need for commitment, continuity and the importance of ‘collective memory’ in this kind of development.’

Photo: Architectural Presentations Cees van Giessen