The Mayor: luxury residential building with international allure

More than 10,000 m2 of aluminum window frames 

The former KPMG office complex 'De Bovenlanden' on the A9 near Amstelveen was for many years among the largest office buildings in our country. The long, linked building volumes extend over a length of more than half a kilometer. The building has been completely stripped and rebuilt into a luxury residential building with international allure: The Mayor. Schipper Kozijnen supplied and installed more than 10,000 m2 of stylish, durable and low-maintenance aluminum window frames and sliding doors from system house Kawneer.

The Mayor is no longer reminiscent of the sprawling office complex with its distinctive blue window frames. No, the building design has been completely changed in this transformation, with the behemoth divided into eight smaller buildings. Quite a structural intervention, though. Moreover, an additional floor has also been created on the roof. The organic style of yesteryear has given way to a rectilinear and friendly-looking building with a finish in Mediterranean stucco combined with lots of glass. A lot of glass. The Mayor now includes eight high-end residential buildings with 315 apartments for sale and rent, 39 luxurious penthouses and 10 park villas, completely surrounded by greenery and water. 

Gable recesses

The starting point in the design was to create maximum resident comfort, within the existing facade spaces. So Schipper Kozijnen replaced the old blue window frames with more than 10,000 m2 of aluminum window frames. In total, the renowned North Holland family business supplied and installed approximately 2,700 frames and sliding doors from Kawneer's RT 72 Reflex and AA 41100 series. In addition, another 700 glass noise barriers and 700 glass fall-through protections. In addition to a luxurious appearance and optimum occupant comfort, maximum daylight ingress, safety, sun protection and noise abatement are central to this. Optimal resident comfort, in other words. 

Soundproofing

Schipper Kozijnen was involved in the project at an early stage, especially also to help think about the architectural detailing. "The existing recesses were carefully measured. We also helped think about how we could guarantee a perfect connection to the existing construction with as little labor and material as possible," says Jappe Dekker, Head of Sales Business Market at Schipper Kozijnen. "Because this was a transformation project from offices to luxury homes, a lot of attention was paid to maximum daylight penetration and soundproofing. For the latter, sound screens were attached to the window frames on the highway side, among other things.    

Based on all the wishes and requirements, our findings, knowledge and expertise, we further elaborated the detailing and tuned it in 3D/BIM. We also helped build the model home, giving buyers good insight into their future home and creating an optimum in circularity, sustainability, assembly time and price."

Optimal air sealing

All window frames are finished in black on the outside, while the inside is coated in black or white depending on its position. "All opening parts are equipped with concealed fittings and hinges, so that an attractive finish and optimal air sealing come together perfectly," assures Jappe. "The sliding doors - with dimensions of up to 3 x 2.5 meters (wxh) and sash weights of up to 300 kilograms - are equipped by us with an innovative soft close technique, which prevents noise transmission during closing. We developed this technology in close cooperation with our hardware supplier and the building consortium."

Different types of glazing

The frame elements were delivered to the project fully glazed for optimum throughput. "Opted for HR++ glass in different versions, Jappe said. "The 700 noise barriers on the facade are finished in an extra clear coating to prevent reflection." It is also important that the noise barriers can be washed. "To meet this, we have developed in-house slim and washable screens with low-iron (extra clear) glazing. The various parts for this were printed on our own 3D printer. For example, to test the correct dimensions and connections. On the sunny side, on the other hand, the glazing is provided with a specific sun-resistant coating that blocks the sun's heat without compromising daylight penetration."

Naturally, extensive attention was also paid to safety in this project, adds Jappe. To make maximum use of the existing gable recesses and still guarantee optimal safety and daylight penetration, Schipper Kozijnen installed glass fall-through protections in the bottom 40 centimeters of the tilt-and-turn windows. "These fall-through protections are also executed in extra-clear low-iron glass, so that the luxurious appearance is also raised to the very highest level here. In short, truly a transformation that says 'you'." As of the end of 2023, The Mayor is fully occupied.