DeFlat wins Mies Award

Winner of the Mies Award 2017, DeFlat by NL architects and XVW architectuur is an innovative renovation of one of the biggest apartment buildings in The Netherlands.

The European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe have announced the winners of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2017. The architects are NL architects and XVW architectuur and the client Kondor WesselsVastgoed. DeFlat is an innovative renovation of one of the biggest apartment buildings in The Netherlands called Kleiburg, a bend slab with 500 apartmentsin Amsterdam’s Bijlmermeer neighbourhood. Consortium DeFlat rescued the building from the wrecking ball by turning it into a “Klusflat”, meaning that the inhabitants renovate their apartments by themselves.


NL Architects and XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, Amsterdam, 2016
NL Architects and XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, Amsterdam, 2016
NL Architects and XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, Amsterdam, 2016
NL Architects and XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, Amsterdam, 2016
NL Architects and XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, Amsterdam, 2016
NL Architects e XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, site plan
NL Architects and XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, aerial view
NL Architects and XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, diagram
NL Architects and XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, plan
NL Architects and XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, plan
NL Architects and XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, section
NL Architects and XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, section

  The project inspires reflection on the new and complex reality of contemporary living. It proposes new forms of “affordable housing”, adding to what is universally a complex and multi-layered offer (ranging from fully subsidized rent to shared ownership and rent- purchase schemes) by providing options for the large majority who have a little money but cannot afford to get on the conventional property ladder. This is low-cost habitable space (€1,200 per sqm) – a fantastic new option that does not currently exist.

NL Architects and XVW architectuur, DeFlat Kleiburg, Amsterdam, 2016