De Keyzer Building in Amsterdam Adapts from Elderly Care to Family Housing
The De Keyzer building in Amsterdam, completed in 2011, originally housed 48 psychogeriatric beds, 68 wheelchair-accessible apartments, and spaces for informal caregivers and bedside care. Shortly after completion, it was sold to an investment fund and rented to young families. Architects Tom Frantzen and Karel van Eijken see this as a validation of their design philosophy: buildings can outlast their original program if they are generous and structurally flexible. The episode demonstrates that designing for adaptability—rather than a single function—can prevent destructive renovations or demolition when uses change.
Key facts
- De Keyzer building opened in Amsterdam in 2011.
- It contained 48 psychogeriatric beds and 68 wheelchair-accessible apartments.
- The building was sold to an investment fund shortly after completion.
- Apartments were subsequently rented to young families with children.
- Architects Tom Frantzen and Karel van Eijken designed the building.
- Frantzen noted that buildings can be used in completely different ways than intended.
- The transformation was possible due to generous apartment sizes and flexible structure.
- The architects argue that designing for a single function risks costly renovation or demolition.
Entities
Artists
- Tom Frantzen
- Karel van Eijken
Locations
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands