Proposed for the remotest and only true island of the new Amsterdam development of IJburg, lying at the transition between the city and the waters of IJmeer, is a green and serene world. Here, in the peace of the open country, you can leave the bustle of the city behind. This world makes space for a cemetery, a new living environment for IJburg and a restrained form of recreation. An appropriate programme for this outstanding site, it links into the IJburg scheme, strengthening its position within Amsterdam. A central dike splits the island into two. The south-western part consists of an elongated village of waterside houses interrupted by a few small harbour basins. A housing foundation takes care of distributing and developing the lots. The green upward thrust of arboreta and poplar plantations mediates between the urban IJburg and an expanse of reedland in the north-eastern half of the island. This is where the cemetery is sited. It can be reached across the dike from a harbour specially designed for the purpose. The burial plots presence like ancient mounds dispersed among the reeds; the buildings lie along the dike. This dike is as much the symbiotic border between the two worlds as the element linking them. The recreational dike environment stitches the two worlds either side of the dike into a whole. To the east, the measure and influence of the aquatic world increases steadily to ultimately flow together with the expanse of water. A system of paths opens up this endless landscape for ramblers.

Place of education: Amsterdam
Specialization: landschapsarchitectuur/landscape architecture
Tutors: Peter Lubbers, Christian Zalm & Hans van der Made