ecofriend.com

Leeuwarden Housing Project: Coexistence of natural and urban setups

The Leeuwarden housing project, designed by the Portuguese firm OODA and the Spanish firm OOIIO Architecture, is an interesting and appreciable attempt at bridging the often unassailable divide between the urban areas and the countryside. In many industrialized and developing countries in the world, greenery is making way for skyscrapers. The proposal for the housing project in Leeuwarden, Netherlands is a refreshing change. It builds on the concept of floating waterlilies to put forth an architectural marvel that gives due attention to sustainability and the use of natural resources of power for meeting the energy needs of the dwellers.

OODA + OOIIO architecture: leeuwarden housing

A closer look

The proposed residential project borrows from the natural landscape features of Freisland province in Netherlands. It seeks to combine the concept of floating water lilies with provisions for urban amenities. Different kinds of residential structures are proposed. Apartments as well as single floor housing has been provided for. The Marina apartments offer three different kinds of options to buyers depending on their requirement and the money they can afford to spend. The same holds true for the apartments tower. The single floor housing options offer as many as eight alternatives for people to choose from. The first phase proposes the building of 100 housing units while the rest 385 housing units will come up in the subsequent phases.

Appropriate areas have been marked for public spaces, public green areas and public sports areas.The project envisages the division of the area in a manner that ample green spaces are provided for. Apart from this the water canals in the residential areas and the accompanying islands of green recreate the magnificence of floating water lilies. The canals get water from the Leeuwarden river. Shared agriculture area further marks the coexistence of natural and urban setups. Apart from roads meant for the cars, the separate lanes for cycling allow for the use of an environment friendly mode of transport which doubles up as a mode of exercise to keep fit.

Ecological credentials

The project aims at harnessing wind energy, solar energy and geothermal energy to make the residential area self reliant when it comes to power generation. The use of renewable sources of energy further ensures that the environment is spared the harm that may occur from excessive use of fossil fuels. The wind energy harnessed will be supplied to the different facilities via electrical towers. Different structures carry photovoltaic cells for conversion of solar energy into electrical energy. This is significant considering that sporadic use of equipment using solar power has never really been replaced by a more structural and organized approach where use of solar energy is the usual mode of power generation and not a deviation from the normal. The use of geothermal energy is yet another step in the right direction. The cumulative effect of the use of wind energy, solar power and the geothermal power to meet the energy requirements of the area will help obviate the need for other sources of power.

Ample provision for greenery is meant to keep the environment clean while the provision for recycling of water ensures that the water resources are used judiciously. Use of renewable resources of power is the need of our times. The housing project showcases the realism in the parallel existence of urban amenities and ample provisions for greenery which quite often seems near impossible.

Via: Designboom

Today's Top Articles:

Scroll to Top