THE ORCHARD II

In the redevelopment area 'In de Bogaard' in Rijswijk, Barcode Architects designed the high-quality residential tower The Orchard II. In the heart of the district, the building occupies a prominent place on Steenvoordeplein, which will become an intimate town square in the future. In the coming years, the area will develop from a monotonous shopping area into a lively part of the city. PosadMaxwan's master plan design focuses on the human dimension and the creation of a green residential area where existing and new residents can meet.

Barcode Architects responds to this ambition with an all-sided and distinctive design. With its sculptural, 54-metre high volume, The Orchard II makes a bold gesture towards its surroundings. On the east side, the building forms the entrance to In De Bogaard, making it an important link on the axis to the railway station. On the west side, The Orchard II will be located right on the vivid city square.

Various terraces have been created around the building with setbacks, which spiral around the building and react to the heights of the surrounding buildings. For each setback, a contrasting palette of aluminium and rhythmically placed, sloping balconies were chosen to add dynamism to the building’s appearance. The result is an eye-catching volume with a different silhouette from every angle. The rotating shape of the volume leads to a very diverse residential programme with 102 owner-occupied and rental flats – ranging from studios and loggia houses to spacious terrace apartments and exclusive penthouses. On the ground floor, an urban mix of commercial functions is housed behind a transparent, inviting plinth. On the square and passage side, restaurants and terraces bring life to the public space.

The expressive green brick in the façade gives the building a striking appearance. The various stacked blocks have a single colour palette, but the variation of smooth and contrasting rough-ribbed bricks gives each block its own identity and breaks the scale of the volume. The grid structure is shifted per block, which further reinforces the spiral effect in the concept. Green aluminium panels next to the windows react variably to the incidence of light and give the facade additional transparency. Planters provide the terraces with a sustainable appearance and contribute to a healthy living environment, nature inclusiveness and biodiversity. In this way, The Orchard II fits in with the green ambitions of the city of Rijswijk.