UpMountain is a pioneering project, both in terms of construction and design. The complicated construction, placing 45 exclusive apartments on top of a parking garage, pushed the boundaries of what was previously possible. It is for that reason that UpMountain is a worldwide pioneer and remains a one of a kind in its class.
Rijnboutt architects designed all three parts of this extensive project. The spacious balconies on all sides of UpMountain, as well as the large terraces, allow for 360° views.
Everything was considered. The spacious terraces were placed facing south, allowing for maximum amounts of sunlight whilst the meticulously selected facades, balcony edges and materials unite UpMountain with the warehouse and parking garage.
With flexibility in mind, the design allows for each apartment to be finished individually according to the individual desires of each owner. Altering, merging or splitting the apartments at a later stage is possible if desired.
The interior architecture has not been left unnoticed. A spectacular atrium spans the full height of UpMountain, connecting the apartments and creating a spacious communal area.
The jewel on top of the parking garage. The V&D warehouse and old parking garage were in desperate need of a renovation. The low ceilings of the parking garage were removed and various changes were made to accommodate 450 cars. Its accessibility, through comfortable ramps, was improved and see through facades were implemented.
Simultaneously, the V&D warehouse was stripped, re-designed and re-built from the ground up. This allowed retail space for a warehouse in luxury goods.
To round off the project, UpMountain was built on top of the parking garage, sharing several design elements with the inviting warehouse alongside. The industrial appearance of the project can be seen throughout all 3 components.
With an innovative and versatile design, the challenge of construction arose. Placing a structure, housing 45 apartments and private parking garage, on top of an existing garage was not an easy task. Regardless, challenge was undertaken by the builder, AKOR.
The choice of materials and a rigid hull were essential to succeed. The installation of each apartment have been made separate of the main structure, allowing for additional flexibility. The building was constructed in a steel support structure, paired with duct slab floors around a concrete core. The ‘optop’ was built around the concrete core, stretching from the ground floor all the way to the top of UpMountain. It accommodates the elevators while housing the crane during construction.
In order to connect UpMountain to the existing garage, the bottom two layers consist of a transition construction of steel half-timbers. The steel base and concrete floors rest on this base. The concrete core ensures stability, while other materials ensure flexibility to cope with high winds.
