A team comprising Orange Architects, Felixx, Ballast Nedam West, and ABT has completed a mixed-use residential scheme in Amsterdam inspired by various natural forms. Titled Jonas and situated on the artificial island of Ijburg, the building is centered around a “concentration of special places” inspired by rocks, islands, forests, beaches, and canyons.

At the front of the building, a landscape titled ‘The Rock’ is anchored by a large wooden sculpture that integrates a parking garage entrance. A multifunctional grandstand is created by sculptural terraces and wooden decks, while on summer days, the building’s interior and exterior merge by way of a large operable glass frontage.

The patio of the building has been dubbed ‘The Forest,’ manifesting as a quiet, intimate space populated by large birch trees, ferns, moss, slate paths, and wooden benches. The space serves as a breakout area for adjacent workplaces, while a patio sloping down to the water integrated a “playful staircase with rocky seating elements.”

Inside, residential units flank a monumental atrium dubbed ‘The Canyon.’ A central spine for the building, the atrium is naturally lit while a central waterway on the roof projects unique glaring shadows into the interior space. At ground level, the Canyon connects to both the Rock and Forest outdoor spaces, while a “mountain path” winds along each floor connecting to a rooftop amenity area.

The rooftop amenity area, dubbed ‘The Beach,’ features a central watercourse of glass spanning the roof of the entire atrium, surrounded by an undulating dune landscape. Terraces around the dune are separated by wooden boxes with wild roses while a central barbecue area serves as a community anchor.

“Jonas adds a linked collection of outdoor and interior rooms,” landscape architects Felixx explain. “The Rock on the square, The Island in the canal, The Forest in the patio, and The Beach on the roof. These characteristic places invite you to discover the story of Jonas and the Whale. A story about adventure and intimacy, about shelter, security and homeliness inside a ‘big body’.”