BUUR: Affordable living in a quality new city center

In Utrecht Leidsche Rijn, on the spot where until 1998 only orchards, meadows and greenhouses could be found, a unique new city center with varied residential and shopping blocks, culture and catering facilities is emerging. BUUR appears at the southernmost point of this city center, five minutes from the NS railway station and as an extension of the shopping center. This special 'capstone of Leidsche Rijn Center' includes the realization of three residential blocks with 454 high-quality, comfortable and affordable apartments: 314 in social rent and 140 in medium rent. The plinth strip will contain (retail) spaces for local, small-scale, commercial and artisanal entrepreneurs. A parking garage and bicycle storage will be built under the buildings, topped by collective courtyard gardens.

"BUUR is unique in several ways," says Jeroen Heijdra, chairman of the board of ERA Contour. "We were awarded the realization of this wonderful project after a private construction team selection, in which, among other things, our logistics plan stood out positively. In approximately 25 years, Leidsche Rijn has been transformed into an urban area in which all urban challenges apply. For example, a bus lane runs on the west side of BUUR, which will remain in use during our work. The same applies to the adjacent school and shopping center, for which specific measures have been taken." Arjan Nolles, project developer at ERA Contour: "Together with the bus company and municipality, we took stock of whether and how the bus lane could be shifted or narrowed at certain times. Moreover, we constantly coordinated with the school management. For example, the piling work was planned as much as possible during the vacations to avoid noise pollution. To also keep the through road on the north side accessible for emergency services, for example, as much storage and handling as possible takes place on the construction site itself."

Three buildings, nine contracts

The latter in particular is a challenge because BUUR is being realized on a postage-stamp location. Moreover, ERA Contour is realizing three residential blocks in one construction flow for housing corporation Wonam and housing corporations Woonin (formerly: Mitros) and Portaal. The homes for Wonam will be partly operated by Woonhave. "In addition to three (main) clients, we are dealing with three architectural firms in each block: NwA Architects, Dam & Partners and Jo Coenen Architects & Urbanists (JCAU)," Heijdra says. "So in the end there are nine contracts to which we conform. This makes consultation and coordination sometimes complex, but also offers great added value for the end result. For example, each side of each residential block will have a slightly different architecture, which makes the project enormously diverse and interesting." Nolles: "The urban character of Leidsche Rijn Center - with five building layers and double-height plinths - comes into its own perfectly in BUUR, with level differences of up to 2 meters in the ground level providing additional dynamics and liveliness."

Strong neighborhoods, affordable housing

Project BUUR fits perfectly with ERA Contour's ambition to create strong neighborhoods, with affordable housing for happy residents. "Strong neighborhoods are characterized by a mix of target groups," says Nolles. "Social and middle-housing apartments were lacking in Leidsche Rijn Center until recently, but are being added with this project. We are extremely proud to be able to add 454 comfortable and affordable two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments to this beautiful city center." Heijdra: "Thanks to the special architecture, the high quality of the city center is harmoniously carried through to the social and mid-rent apartments. You can't tell from the outside that residents with smaller wallets live here. Both the architects and clients deserve great credit for this."