CPO IJ-UP is a collective self-build housing project in IJburg that brings together architectural quality, resident participation, and collective living. The development comprises 17 dwellings, a shared community space, a parking garage, and a central courtyard that serves as the social heart of the project.

The variety of dwelling types reflects the active involvement of residents throughout the design process. The architecture combines the enduring qualities of brick construction with a contemporary formal language. Sand-coloured brick unifies the façades, with a plinth defined by recessed dark mortar joints, while the upper façades are laid with flush, colour-matched mortar joints, giving the masonry a refined texture. Concave outdoor spaces, clad in timber and paired with mint-green balconies, form generous outdoor rooms that lend the building a distinctive expression. The absence of a continuous roof edge accentuates the sculptural recesses of the balconies and reinforces the plasticity of the façades. Facing the courtyard, light mint-green rendered façades provide a calm counterpoint to the brick exterior while emphasising the collective character of the shared garden.

The access galleries overlooking the courtyard are generously dimensioned and articulated through subtle variations in paving that distinguish the circulation zone from a generous semi-private outdoor area directly adjoining each dwelling. This resident-appropriable space extends the home into the shared gallery, complementing the private balconies on the street façade. The interconnected galleries and courtyard encourage informal encounters while allowing residents to personalise their immediate surroundings, strengthening the project’s collective character.