The Ark , Amsterdam/ Niederlande

Press release by Powerhouse Company

 

 

Rotterdam, 10 February 2026 - With construction now underway, The Ark is a residential building that embodies a shared belief between Powerhouse Company and Amvest in the future of timber construction. Drawing on Powerhouse Company’s expertise in wooden structures and an ambitious brief, the building positions timber as a driver of architectural innovation, long-term quality, and well-being in housing. Located in Overhoeks, a rapidly developing district in Amsterdam, The Ark forms part of a broader urban transformation that will shape the city’s identity for decades to come. Responding to this context required a long-term vision and a coordinated commitment between the Municipality of Amsterdam, the client, and the design team.

 

Housing plays a significant role in mental well-being, with material choices directly influencing how living spaces are experienced. In The Ark, the timber structure is left exposed within the apartments, integrating the psychological benefits of wood into everyday life. The visible timber introduces warmth, tactility, and sensory depth, qualities associated with reduced stress and improved emotional comfort, while full-width balconies extend the living spaces outward. Together, these design elements create calm, restorative residential environments and reinforce a strong connection to natural materials.

 

The Ark responds to its urban context through two distinct yet complementary façades. On the street-facing side, the building engages with a lively public realm through a clearly defined entrance, a publicly accessible terrace, and commercial spaces at ground level. Together, these elements contribute to an active streetscape and strengthen the building’s relationship with its surroundings. Toward the waterfront, the character becomes more tranquil. A secondary entrance provides access to a shared garden that functions as both a retreat and a space for social interaction. The two façades are spatially and socially connected by a series of balconies that wrap around the building, while a central entrance hall, accessible from both sides, forms the architectural and social heart of the project and unifies its contrasting conditions.

 

Structurally, the building combines a limited concrete base with an extensive timber superstructure. Concrete is used only where required, in the basement, ground floor, and core, to provide stability and accommodate parking and commercial functions. Above this base, the building is realised in timber, organised in a repetitive and efficient structural system that supports spatial clarity and architectural consistency.

 

Powerhouse Company is an international architecture firm with studios in Rotterdam, Munich, Oslo, and Nairobi. Since its founding in 2005, it has grown into a multidisciplinary team of over one hundred designers and specialists. Its portfolio ranges from adaptive reuse and residential developments to interiors, private villas, and public buildings. Powerhouse Company delivers integrated design solutions that combine timeless beauty with technical precision and an ongoing focus on innovation.

 

Project name: The Ark

Status: Under Construction

Timeline: 2024 - ongoing

Size: 14 850 m² GFA

Client: Amvest

Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Typology: Mixed-use, Residential (125 apartments, 81 rental and 44 sale units), Commercial spaces (550m2)

 

Landscape architect: Buro Sant en Co

Developer: Amvest

MEP consultant: Huygen

Cost consultant: Skaal

Building physics and fire protection: DGMR

Structural engineer: Diocon

Timber engineer: Linkwood

Contractor: Nijs bouw en ontwikkeling

 

Paul Stavert (partner in charge), Niek Koning, Maxime Meesen, Jos Overmars, Daan Masmeijer,

Bethel Lemma-Sanders, Gert Ververs, and Jessica Hewitt