Land is scarce in Amsterdam. By stacking different functions, land use can be optimized. The Cultural and Educational Centre Ganzenhoef is a textbook case of an intensive and mixed project. The lot became available when a parking garage was demolished and replaced by a underground construction. On top of that came a public and transparent building where local residents originating from all corners of the world meet each other.

The roof is crowned by 23 apartments that enjoy a free view all around. Low-rise dwellings up high. The stairs of the maisonettes stand in a void, lit by a skylight. In the middle of the single storey apartments, a patio provides an outdoor space. Thus light plays an important central role in the apartments, just as in the building below, where the atrium draws daylight inside and provides orientation.

The facades of the roof apartments have a closed appearance with standing window openings, distinguishing them from the horizontally articulated outer walls of the main building.