Nature plays starring role in new Happy Days housing development

'The feeling of vacation'

Living with the feeling that you are on vacation every day: that is Happy Days. On the edge of the Oosterheem neighborhood in Zoetermeer, construction will start in early August on a special neighborhood that resembles nothing like a traditional residential area. "Happy Days is designed entirely from the idea of how wonderful life is at a vacation park or camping site," says Dion van Dijk, concept developer at ERA Contour. "Nature plays a leading role in this."

Happy Days is a development by TBI companies ERA Contour and Synchroon. "In 2016, we were asked by the municipality of Zoetermeer whether we could come up with a unique residential concept for this location. The example cited was Le Medi in Rotterdam, a project by ERA Contour inspired by the multicolor, mosaic and ornamentation of Mediterranean cities," says Van Dijk. "Together with the municipality of Zoetermeer and the designers from ECHO, we visited the project site to come up with a unique residential concept for this specific location as well."

Fully immersed in nature at home

The location of Happy Days is special, he says. "A wasteland surrounded by trees, on the edge of Vinex district Oosterheem, with activity and along connecting road N470, but also near a lot of greenery. We gave that greenery in particular a leading role in Happy Days, taking the layout of vacation parks and campsites as our starting point. No long straight streets and cars in front of the door, but a park-like neighborhood where encounters and adventure are central. Cars drive and park on the outer edge. The collective 'inner area' is a large park with various natural play areas, where children can play freely and safely. Just like being on vacation!"

Walkways and paving blend in shape and color with the rolling park-like environment, which is arranged according to three biotopes: forest, valley and flowery hay meadow. The trees, shrubs, flowers and water in the landscape were carefully chosen in collaboration with a landscape architect and attract birds, bees and butterflies. "From their veranda - which all owner-occupied homes will soon have - residents will soon be able to enjoy this beautiful flora and fauna in peace."

Energy neutral living

Happy Days consists of 165 homes for sale. From dike houses to mound houses and water houses and from bungalows to semi-detached houses. Built by ERA Contour, the homes are distinguished by a beautiful sloping roof, frequent use of wood and large areas of glass, says Andy Ansems, project manager at ERA Contour. "Sustainability is also maximized here. Happy Days will be built energy-neutral (EPC=0). All homes will soon function all-electric. The indoor climate is regulated by a WKO installation with heat pumps and underfloor heating, combined with mechanical ventilation. The electricity required for this will be sustainably generated by solar panels."

The consumer as co-producer

Happy Days is a special and daring housing concept, Van Dijk emphasizes. "In order to investigate and increase the enthusiasm for this project, we set up a 'Freebuiter trajectory' at an early stage. People who could not wait to come and live in Happy Days were given the opportunity to think along as co-producers about the further elaboration of the plan. For example, regarding the middle area, play facilities and accessibility. In exchange for their input, all Freeholders were given the chance to be the first to bid on a home."

To ensure rapid and smooth implementation, the project has been divided into three adjacent phases: Flowery (61 homes), Watery (47 homes) and Treey (57 homes). "The land has now been prepared for construction and the utility parties have completed the work around cables and pipes," Ansems said. "We started drilling the heat wells in early June and the piling of phase 1 will follow in August. In the third quarter of 2024, we expect to deliver the last homes in this special new construction project."