A circular society calls for values such as solidarity and cohesion, reciprocity, shared responsibility and hospitality. These will form the basic principles for the design of 48,000 m² of private sector owner-occupied housing, mid-market rented housing, social rented housing and productive industries. However, ensuring that an ambitious project such as Sample is a genuine success requires an innovative approach. This is why a range of different parties have been involved, contributing ideas to the programme and to the buildings themselves.

Existing expert knowledge on circularity from different construction partners has been brought together and combined with new ideas from original thinkers, creators and initiators. Involving a wide range of partners, including residents’ organisation Verdedig Noord, architects’ firms Space&Matter and Mecanoo, ZUS, Metabolic, Finch Buildings, TRAJECT Adviseurs & Managers, Arup, Sweco and the City of Amsterdam, Sample represents a concerted effort to meet the sustainable and societal demands of the modern age.

The architectural design provides optimum freedom for ‘sampling’ the façade. For this purpose, bio-based and/or circular materials are being used that the partners will harvest from donor buildings in the years ahead. The diversity in the colour and texture of these harvested materials will create a distinctive and recognisable identity. The plinth will be made of recycled concrete. The buildings will supply energy and be made up of components that can be dismantled and easily reused at the end of their life-cycle. For almost half of the structure, wooden modules will be used that can be easily dismantled and contribute to a good environmental-performance score, while also reducing the construction time.

In addition to the architectural requirements, the aim is also to achieve circular cross-pollination at a social level. The values of society form the pillars of a circular society and the aim is to enable these to grow from the community grass roots. The commercial area in the plinth will be home to several leading circular pioneers, including local manufacturing companies, such as bicycle factory Roetz, vertical farmer Growy and smart grid builder Spectral. Their agenda is not only circular but also social, providing opportunities for learning and day-to-day activities in addition to employment. Partners such as Verdedig Noord will also feature prominently in the complex. With its programming, this residents’ organisation will actively involve other local initiatives while also initiating activities and alliances with residents and businesses from nearby neighbourhoods in Amsterdam-Noord.