CPO Baksteen is a collective private commissioning group (CPO) established by five Amsterdam households to design and develop a residential building on Centrum Eiland, IJburg. Founded in 2022, the initiative operates within Amsterdam’s ongoing housing challenges, seeking to provide affordable, energy-neutral homes for middle-income residents. The group draws inspiration from Amsterdam’s tradition of brickwork architecture, referencing local historical styles in both building material and social ambition.
The project comprises a five-storey structure containing 18 apartments, along with communal amenities such as a shared guest room, terrace, garden with pond, and sauna. It also features a parking garage. Apartment sizes range from 60 to 120 square meters, and the total area developed is 2,200 square meters.
Central to CPO Baksteen’s approach is participatory design—future residents shape both the building and their community agreements. Core values include maintaining affordability, fostering urban social dynamics, reflecting Amsterdam’s diversity in resident backgrounds, and building a culture of mutual respect among neighbors.
Construction and design processes are guided by these principles rather than commercial interests. The project is ongoing, with an explicit goal to contribute positively to the neighborhood and broader community. CPO Baksteen distinguishes itself from typical property development in Amsterdam by prioritizing resident-driven decisions and experiments in collective living. No additional projects under the name CPO Baksteen have been documented as of the latest available information.