MVRDV and SDK Vastgoed (VolkerWessels) won the competition for the redevelopment of the inner city area around Deken van Someren Street in Eindhoven, which is set to become high-quality and sustainable residences for the city’s inhabitants. Nieuw Bergen is a contemporary and progressive residential development combining urban and green qualities in the neighborhood of Bergen, Eindhoven.
Nieuw Bergen is set to become a unique part of the city center of Eindhoven and combines the values of renovated and transformed buildings with new constructions. The 29,000m2 project of seven buildings will include 237 new homes, a 1,700m2 commercial program, 270m2 of urban farming, and underground parking.
The urban strategy applied here is based on the knowledge and innovation necessary to establish a sustainable, pleasant, and dynamic living environment for future residents. The design approach echoes Eindhoven’s status as a city of technology, design, and knowledge. Nieuw Bergen will have a hypermodern feel and continue the informal character of the Bergen neighborhood.
Nieuw Bergen: Sustainable Housing in Eindhoven
Imaginary planes at an angle of 45 degrees are drawn from the footprint of neighbouring residential buildings which leads to natural light principles that result in unpredictable building forms with jagged silhouettes, a modern and optimistic atmosphere. At the same time, these refer to traditional pitched roofs.
The 45-degree angle maximizes sunlight for both houses and public spaces, creating an optimum environment with significant energy savings. The oblique roof planes are ideally suited for installing solar panels and accommodating green roofs. This concept is an evolution of the urban strategy tool MVRDV has been developing and actively applying in cities in need of sustainable densification.
Natural light plays a central role in Nieuw Bergen, as volumes follow a strict height limit and a design guideline that allows for the maximum amount of natural sunlight, views, intimacy and reduced visibility from street levels,” says Jacob van Rijs, co-founder of MVRDV. ‘Pocket Parks also ensure a pleasant distribution of greenery throughout the neighbourhood and create an intimate atmosphere for all.’
Although individual buildings within Nieuw Bergen are different, they collectively form a family that fits into the existing context like a mosaic. The sloping roofs reinforce this diversity and create a varied roof landscape.
The diverse roofscape with solar panels and green makes for an eye-catching and sustainable character. Angled roofs are less visible from the ground floor and result in a more intimate city. Collective gardens and greenhouses with lamella roof structures crown a number of buildings. A conscious choice of neutral colors and textured materials with subtle differences inform the striking facades.
Other façade materials incorporate stone, brick, and stucco elements, and the color palette varies from white to grey and brown, shiny to rough. Wall openings also follow this diversity of architecture, and varied-positioned balconies with generous outdoor spaces create a vivid and attractive living environment.
The project description is provided by MVRDV.
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