If you came to see the legendary Bijlmermeer urban extension in Amsterdam today, you’d be too late. This satellite estate no longer exists in its original form. Only round the Kraaiennest underground station is a last remnant of old Bijlmer still to be found – including the Kleiburg high-rise block, the unconventional refurbishment of which has just won the EU Mies van der Rohe Award. (…) 

NL Architects and XVW Architects were commissioned to draw up plans. Kamiel Klaasse of NL Architects said: “Our starting point was the fact that the building was actually very attractive and simply needed upgrading.” Uniformity and serial character had suddenly become positive aspects. The strategy lay in minimal but well aimed changes to the “hardware”, combined with a reduction and flexibilization of the “software” of the building.  (Anneke Bokern)