>> How can we create a suburban neighbourhood that is resilient to the changing social, economic and environment parameters of today?
With this question in mind we set out for the development of a new neighbourhood community in the suburban village of Berkel en Rodenrijs. We aimed to create a neighbourhood that fosters informal care between different generations, re-establishing the elderly and children at the centre of the community. In addition we aim to respond to the environmental challenges of the future and in particular the anticipated increase in annual precipitation and periods of heavy rainfall in The Netherlands. Creating a green suburban community orientated around water squares.
>> PEOPLE - Creating a suburban environment that is resilient to the social challenges of today.
More than 35% of all marriages end in divorce and more than 25% of the elderly feel lonely and alienated from society. We aim to create a neighbourhood where the nuclear family is still leading but where single parent families and multi generation families can become an integrated part of the suburban living community. Creating suburban communities that anticipate family structures to be in flux. In addition we think that elderly can play a very important role in supporting single parent families and vice versa. Moving towards an urban model where children and the elderly are at the centre of neighbourhood planning.
>> PROFIT - Creating a suburban environment that is resilient to the economic challenges of today.
In the Netherlands there is a huge gap between generations in accumulated wealth, with 80% of the under 25 generation having a negative property equity while the over 55 generation has an average €100,000 positive property equity. We aim to create a neighbourhood that allows for two generations to bundle their resources. In addition creating an environment where the elderly remain active participants and where the increase of freelance working is integrated in the urban plan.
>> PLANET - Creating a suburban environment that is resilient to environmental challenges of today.
The anticipated increase of heavy rainfall provides a huge challenge for a country where 60% of its land is under sea level. Water management has always been at the centre of Dutch culture and indeed of each local community. Through a series of water squares we aim to create a community where water storage is an integrated part of neighbourhood planning and becomes part of the identity of the place. In addition we aim to reintroduce the car-free zone at the heart of the Dutch suburban community and plan a neighbourhood around the concept of a pedestrian focused environment.
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