Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
A neighborhood that connects the city and nature is currently being built in Rotterdam: Nieuw Kralingen. Developers ERA Contour and Heijmans are collaborating on this project in the Nieuw Kralingen Development Consortium. They previously worked together on Nieuw Crooswijk.
The initial idea for the Nieuw Kralingen residential area dates back to 2007. However, due to turmoil in the housing market and the financial crisis, development did not start until 2019. The first pile was driven into the ground in 2022. Project developer Roland Guikema of ERA Contour: “The plan comprises 800 homes, which will be built in two phases. Phase 1 consists of 450 homes, of which 275 have now been completed. The second phase will include 350 homes, mainly spacious ground-level homes, supplemented by apartments for social and mid-range rentals. There will also be a primary school. According to the current schedule, we expect to complete the last home in 2034.” Over time, construction is becoming increasingly CO2-neutral. This is achieved by, among other things, working with a prefabricated skeleton, green concrete, the use of PV panels, and water/water heat pumps with an individual ground loop.
The homes are spacious and surrounded by greenery. Nieuw Kralingen will soon be directly connected to the Kralingse Bos and the Kralingse Plas. This will require the Bosdreef to be rerouted. Homes will be built on part of the space that becomes available. Existing trees and the greenery in the central reservation will be preserved as much as possible. “We are also bringing greenery into the neighborhood in various places. This includes a green avenue, copses, grass, and a water feature. We are also applying a low parking standard of one parking space per home. Shared cars for communal use will be available in the neighborhood. This approach means fewer cars on the streets and more space for greenery. Residents will have spacious gardens, which will also help combat heat stress and flooding. And, something I am very proud of: rainwater will be collected on site and then infiltrated into the soil. We opted for this six years ago, which was well ahead of our time.”
The landscape design is by West 8. Flora and fauna are taken into account throughout the neighborhood. This includes installing nesting boxes and planting native species of trees and public greenery. “This strengthens the connection to Kralingse Bos and its flora and fauna.
What makes this project particularly special is its location within the ring road, where there is still space to build ground-level homes on this scale. These are richly detailed, high-quality homes. Six architects are involved in the design, resulting in a great deal of diversity in the homes. “Six design teams with one common goal: a cohesive streetscape full of character and detail,” says Guikema. The architects drew inspiration for the design of the homes from the current Kralingen neighborhood. This is reflected in the roof shapes, overhang details, and brickwork patterns, among other things. Quality was also a priority in the design of the public space. “We are proud of the part of the neighborhood that has now been completed. It has turned out even more beautiful than the impressions. And now that the first homes are in place, interested parties can see exactly what to expect: living near the city, forest, and lake.”
