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© Jan Derwig
HOUSING, URBAN DESIGN FRANKENDAEL
MERKELBACH & KARSTEN/MERKELBACH & ELLING, 1947-1951
Maxwellstraat, Lorentzlaan e.o., Amsterdam
ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE): Merkelbach & EllingMerkelbach & KarstenASSISTING ARCHITECT: Mart StamURBAN DESIGN: Co MulderLANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Mien RuysARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE): Ben MerkelbachPiet EllingCharles KarstenBUILDING TYPE: HousingUrban plansPUBLICATIONS:
Het Bouwbedrijf 1938 p. 1; Forum 1952 p. 187; La Technique des Traveaux 1952 p. 153; M. Kuipers - Toonbeelden van de wederopbouw, Zwolle 2002; J. Tellinga - De grote verbouwing, 2004; Detail in Archtectuur 2004-6
A 1939 design for row housing was with the exception of a few privately built blocks, recast using the 'open court' principle. The basic unit consists of two low-rise L-shapes around a court with a playground and greenery, all dwellings having a garden facing south-west and a north-east entrance. Besides 396 family dwellings split 'for the time being' into duplex units, the district consists of villas, a few facilities such as schools and shops and much public greenspace. The future of this neighbourhood is uncertain; the housing corporations would prefer to demolish it, though architectural historians and the heritage department take the opposite view.