Final award development Smeetsland-North to Ballast Nedam Development

The municipality of Rotterdam and housing corporation Havensteder have put the development of the Smeetsland-North site out to tender. In the search for a developer for the area with 290 homes, Ballast Nedam Development has been awarded the development. The Municipality and Havensteder had designed the tender with the task of creating a distinctive and high-quality residential environment there that would lead to more differentiation in Lombardijen and Rotterdam South. Ballast Nedam Development was chosen by the evaluation committee on the basis of price and quality with their plan Garden Neighborhood Vrijlandt. The neighborhood will be an important quality impulse for the region, contributing to the retention of families and middle groups in this part of Rotterdam. Thus, the plan also makes an important contribution to the ambitions of the National Program Rotterdam South (NPRZ).

Energy-neutral garden city

With the development of Smeetsland-Noord, Rotterdam will gain a new energy-neutral city district: Tuinbuurt Vrijlandt. A sustainable neighborhood where people from various target groups live and come together. A total of 290 rental and owner-occupied homes with high-quality architecture and appearance will be built.

Bas Kurvers (alderman), Municipality of Rotterdam: This is a new pearl in the improvement of Rotterdam South with houses in different price ranges for all Rotterdam residents. Low-rise buildings set the tone. Smeetsland-Noord will have a new cachet and a new name: Tuinbuurt Vrijlandt.

The plan consists mainly of ground-level housing, and has a rich variety of housing typologies, both semi-detached and detached houses. There will also be 50 (senior citizen) apartments, which together with 50 ground-level houses are intended for Havensteder's portfolio for social rent. This large differentiation in housing will meet the Rotterdam 2030 Housing Vision.

All homes will be situated in a peaceful oasis with water and greenery where walking and biking are the main modes of transportation. The plan was designed in collaboration with Karres & Brands, KOW Architects and Ballast Nedam Road Specialties.

Ready for the 21st century

The architecture of the public area and the buildings are based on the characteristics of a garden village, where meeting and social cohesion are central. The neighborhood is characterized by a typical garden village appearance, where bay windows and detailing in the brickwork are an essential part of the design. By applying, among other things, nesting boxes, solar panels, electric shared cars and a community greenhouse, this neighborhood is completely in line with the 21st century.

Promoting health has an important place in both design and development. The green urban design with its rich variety of hedges, trees and the centrally located water feature create a pleasant and socially designed neighborhood.

The streets are designed with slow traffic in mind. Car parking is mainly done in parking courtyards between the building blocks, out of sight. Not only does this create a child-friendly environment, it also preserves the character of the original garden village. Tuinbuurt Vrijlandt will receive at least 4 stars of the DGBC quality mark, which proves that a sustainable neighborhood is being realized.

Onno Dwars (director), Ballast Nedam Development: Tuinbuurt Vrijlandt in Rotterdam is an inner-city development that is right up our alley. With high ambitions for inclusiveness, sustainability and health.

The Municipality of Rotterdam, Havensteder and Ballast Nedam Development are very pleased to work together to create this neighborhood of the future.

Are you interested in the project? Let us know via: www.tuinbuurtvrijlandt.nl.