Next to Laan op Zuid in Rotterdam, De Kuil totalling 232 new homes, forms the final piece in the transformation of the Afrikaanderwijk. Behind an urban outer façade of expressive brickwork lies a sheltered, green inner landscape where the buildings step down in terraces towards a central courtyard. In this way, the scheme combines urban and social ambitions: existing and new residents meet in the green inner courtyard, while the introduction of new housing typologies makes the Afrikaanderwijk more attractive to families and middle-income households. By “sampling” existing architectural elements from the Afrikaanderwijk, the design also establishes a contemporary architectural connection with the neighbourhood. Various projecting brick bonding patterns in red-brown brick give the individual blocks their own identity, while simultaneously making them part of the continuous urban structure and architectural language of the Afrikaanderwijk. The scheme offers significant flexibility. Parking spaces can be transformed into garden homes in the future. Live-work typologies with home studios allow for adaptable use and contribute to an active and vibrant street-level frontage. Client: Heijmans. Designed by ROFFAA, XML and Flux landscape architecture. Development from VO design by ROFFAA and Flux landscape architecture. Zonneveld ingenieurs. Nieman raadgevende ingenieurs. MAD – modeling architecture data. Photography: Ossip van Duivenbode