Affordable housing for all

Happy residents and strong neighborhoods. That has been ERA Contour's ambition for more than half a century. "Together with our clients, we develop and create neighborhoods and districts where people can live happily and safely. Regardless of the target group and from new construction to renovation and transformation," says CEO Bianca Seekles.

ERA Contour was created in 1964 from a concept, to respond quickly and effectively to the post-war quantitative housing shortage, says Seekles. "ERA stands for Van Eesteren Rationale Approach; a revolutionary industrial construction method that allowed us to help large groups of people get affordable housing in no time. Between 1964 and 1973 we built more than sixty ERA flats, mainly in the Randstad, totaling some 11,000 homes. Most of the projects were realized in cooperation with housing corporations, which wanted to increase their social housing stock. But also together with the future residents, who, thanks to a large nave size of 7.80 meters, could arrange their homes in countless ways. Fifty years later, creating happy residents as well as strong neighborhoods is still in our minds and hearts."

RESIDENT AS CO-PRODUCER

"Our organization operates in the existing city," Seekles emphasizes. "Here we are not only confronted with limited spaces, rush hours, far-reaching safety measures and noise restrictions, but also with local residents. To get and keep sufficient support for our projects, good environmental management is essential. Our environmental managers actively involve local residents in plan development and are the point of contact for questions. They are also open to ideas from local residents. For example, when it comes to safety, accessibility and livability. If you look at the projects themselves, we have been working with the residents as co-producers for years. We let residents contribute ideas about their homes and living environment from the very beginning, making the project truly theirs."

Depending on the type of project, location and target group, ERA Contour organizes regular client panels/resident sessions. "This starts as early as the urban planning level," Seekles said. "After all, how would you prefer to meet your neighbors? Do you prefer a large square, small streets or perhaps you don't need social interaction at all? We also pay extensive attention to the look and layout of the home itself. For both aspects, we outline a clear context. The influence of certain choices on the price is made visible to everyone. That is very clear. Moreover, it allows us to really create an optimal living environment together with the residents and within their capabilities."

Little C

A great example of co-creation where the environment is closely involved is Little C. "On the Coolhaven in Rotterdam, for years there was a desolate piece of no man's land, where a parking garage and streetwalking zone once dominated the streetscape. We breathed new life into that place," Seekles said. "We thought very carefully about how to create a residential and living area here, where people would feel comfortable and safe. Initially, we thought that extravert city dwellers (the red lifestyle) would be particularly attracted, but the customer panels showed clear interest from the blue lifestyle as well. We adapted parts of the urban planning and architecture to this. The end result is a layout with small-scale residential blocks, narrow streets and various squares, creating an intimate urban character unique to the Netherlands."

Social responsibility

"We see it as our social responsibility to provide good housing. Also for people with smaller wallets," Seekles emphasizes. "The 'ERA flat of today' responds to this optimally. We have dusted off our original concept and adapted it to current times, so that we can again build fast and good affordable housing, with sufficient space and 100% future-proof. Just before the summer, we also launched 'Pay it forward'; a concept in collaboration with Stadkwadraat in which we not only want to build good housing at an affordable price, but also ensure that the housing remains affordable. Curious about how we are doing this? Then check out www.payitforward.nu."

The Purmerhoek

The ERA flats of the time are also still under ERA Contour's attention. Since 2017, these flats have been renovated as rationally as they were built back then. For example, the renovation of the Purmerhoek was recently completed; a large flat with 504 dwellings in Capelle aan den IJssel. Commissioned by housing corporation Havensteder and from Team ERAflats (a collaboration with Smits Vastgoedzorg), ERA Contour carried out large-scale improvement maintenance. "The flat has undergone a wonderful metamorphosis, with in-dwelling end walls, walls and storerooms being insulated, heating systems being prepared for district heating and a great deal of painting being carried out," Seekles said. "Also, most homes received new kitchens, bathrooms and toilets. To minimize inconvenience, we separated construction and resident routes as much as possible. We also set up a special Bath House with toilet and shower facilities and a rest house. All measures were determined in close consultation with residents. As a result, this project was also very widely supported by the residents."