Kas&Co, Utrecht | Multi-generational Living: Residents share time, knowledge, skills and space

A residential district is now being built on the site of the former Utrecht Veemarkthallen. Part of it is being built according to the KAS&CO concept. Four generations will find the home here that suits them. Apartments and ground-level homes alternate and form a common block. This formation, with three common areas, invites all age groups to share time, knowledge, skills and space with each other.

The KAS&CO concept has been in the works since 2016. Hegeman Ontwikkeling developed the concept - in collaboration with RROG Amsterdam - to reverse the ever-increasing individualism through a form of housing in which different generations meet again. On the one hand, this is contained in the varied housing forms. "The homes offer the possibility to make a studio in them for parents living in, for example," says Marita Flier, concept developer at Hegeman Development. "But the shape in which the homes are built also plays a role. The homes are in a U-shape with a shared courtyard garden at the heart, a shared roof terrace and a greenhouse to be used together."

Above and below right: hull construction takes only two days.

By invitation

Hegeman Ontwikkeling had used the KAS&CO concept in an earlier selection. Although it came in second then, the municipality of Utrecht was impressed by the concept. When, a year later, it was looking for an attractive use for field M on the former Veemarkt, it challenged Hegeman Bouwgroep to realize KAS&CO now. This resulted in a plan for 20 ground-level houses, 10 apartments, 2 penthouses, 1 parking garage, 1 inner garden, 1 roof terrace and 1 greenhouse. Flier: "The greenhouse, courtyard garden and roof terrace are jointly owned and can be used for music, lectures, parties and more. That's up to the residents to decide; it's meant to be a meeting place."

Securing the concept

To increase the success rate of multi-generational living, applicants were asked to write a motivation. Why did they want to live in KAS&CO? In order to secure the concept for the future as well, residents are required - if they plan to move - to first offer their home to the association. Interested buyers can also register with the association of KAS&CO living. As soon as a property goes on sale, they will be the first to be informed.

One Piece Flow

The One Piece Flow process results in vertical construction at Hegeman. "Because everything is prefabricated, we more often speak of 'assembly' or 'mounting' these days," says Tom Geerdinck, project manager at Hegeman Bouwgroep. "The number of assembly days depends on the complexity and size of the home. At KAS&CO, the shell phase requires an average of two days per home. Then the exterior shell and interior finishing are realized. These phases run largely parallel; like a train, they flow smoothly into one another. When we assemble house 20, the masonry of house 1 is almost finished and the interior finishing is already in full swing. Modeling is also done One Piece Flow - house by house - together with our ICB chain partners in 3D/BIM."

Sustainable

In the context of sustainability, all homes are "BENG" (Nearly EnergyNeutral Buildings). In addition, the infrastructure will be constructed in this way,  that housing can be rearranged relatively easily. Sustainable travel is also encouraged. KAS&CO will soon feature an electric shared car, which - via an app - can be used by all residents. Flier can only be proud as she walks around the construction site. "It took years to develop KAS&CO. It's fantastic that it is now being realized."  

The rapid construction method goes hand in hand with careful façade finishing.