Pendorp
Connecting nature and architecture
A unique project with a unique history! Pendorp will be a residential area that honors the past and embraces the future – sustainable, green, and people-focused, while respecting the original vision of two masters of Dutch architecture and landscape art, Abe Bonnema and Mien Ruys.
The site of the former headquarters of energy company PEN is an area where nature has been part of its DNA from the very beginning. Based on the ideas of architect Abe Bonnema and landscape architect Mien Ruys, who designed the gardens, pond, and public space in 1977, new homes are being added here while respecting what already existed – in terms of landscape, flora, and history.
Inspired by Mien Ruys's philosophy, greenery will continue to play a central role in this new, vibrant, and sustainable living environment. The iconic indoor pond will be preserved and carefully integrated into the new design, preserving the area's unique character and appearance. The characteristic clean lines will blend seamlessly with the softer forms of the planting. All this is based on a landscape philosophy designed to retain water, reduce heat stress, and enhance biodiversity.
Pendorp is a redevelopment of the former PEN site (Provincial Energy Company North Holland), where architect Abe Bonnema's office complex once stood. His modernist architecture was a striking landmark in Alkmaar for decades. The new Pendorp honors Bonnema's design heritage by retaining the principles of functional clarity, geometric simplicity, and spatial openness. Mien Ruys's original design, with its iconic pond and green structure, is also carefully integrated into the new design. This ensures that her timeless vision of composition, simplicity, and planting remains tangible in the new plan. The reinterpretation of her work ensures that the area retains its unique character and serene atmosphere.
Bonnema and Mien Ruys Heritage
Mien Ruys's legacy lives on in Pendorp. The new Pendorp will be a place where greenery, water, and architecture harmoniously intertwine. Mien Ruys was known for her clean lines and timeless designs that balance people, experience, and planting. The iconic pond and carefully chosen greenery evoke her original design for the PEN site, which is now being given a second life.
The new Pendorp is designed as an open and accessible living environment, where nature and architecture complement each other. Graceful water features, lush plantings, and green courtyards create a tranquil setting. Private and public green spaces blend seamlessly, allowing residents to feel connected to their surroundings and to each other. A courtyard structure and wide sidewalks invite people to meet and relax – exactly as Mien Ruys envisioned: green spaces that are not only beautiful but also foster community and well-being.
Green and people-oriented
Pendorp is being built on the site where the headquarters of the Provincial Electricity Company of North Holland (PEN) once stood, designed by architect Abe Bonnema. His modernist legacy, now realized by the architectural firm The Black Dog, together with Mien Ruys's landscape heritage, forms the basis for the new design. This creates a living environment that honors the past and embraces the future – sustainable, green, and people-focused, while respecting the original vision of two giants of Dutch architecture and landscape art.
Pendorp is located between the North Holland Canal and the Sluispolder and is designed as a car-free, sustainable and energy-efficient residential area with approximately 550 homes. HBB Group The first phase will see the development of homes spread across two courtyards. Buro Mien Ruys designed the outdoor space, public green spaces, and planting plan. The public space is designed to promote living, walking, and cycling. Greenery, water, cyclists, and pedestrians are central to the design. The neighborhood is car-free, ensuring tranquility, space, and safety. Cars are "guests," with parking solutions in parking lots or along the edges of the neighborhood. The emphasis is on social sustainability: places to meet, a safe streetscape, plenty of planting and water features, and connections to existing facilities such as shops, schools, and sports.
Shared space in a water-rich living environment
The plan aims for a natural transition between private and public areas. Delft sidewalks, Wide private lanes in front of the front door encourage social contact between residents. The courtyard structure also contributes to the creation of an intimate, sheltered living environment with ample greenery and space for socializing.
The water features and green spaces are a key element of Pendorp's identity. The iconic pond from Mien Ruys' original design will be reintegrated as a central landscape element.
Several roof gardens face the communal garden. The height difference between these roof gardens and the landscaped garden is compensated for by greenery and transparent steps. A slight elevation in the ground level and greenery conceal the "blind" wall with ventilation grilles of the underlying parking garage. The watercourse transitions from hard banks to soft grass slopes towards the landscaped edge of the project area. Traffic bridges, walkways, walls, and weirs are designed as closely as possible to the original design details by Mien Ruys. An informal walking path along the embankment connects the east and west sides. On the south side, the sidewalk connects to the shared space design of the main route.
Pond and waterways
The interplay between hard and soft banks facing each other is a key design principle. The layering of the soft pond edges and the elevated adjacent squares subtly transitions into the layered architecture of the buildings. This layering is also reflected in the planting, consisting of robust perennials, ornamental shrubs, hedges, and trees, which together form a cohesive whole. In terms of shape and composition, Mien Ruys's pond will remain unchanged. Characteristic details such as the walls, planks, and weirs will be restored, with original design elements retained as much as possible. This will preserve the pond's unique appearance. The adjacent squares offer space for large trees, which creates a high-quality, green image.
