location:Utrecht year: 2020 size: 6250 m² programme: 44 houses client:VORM
Located along the western bank of the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal, Leeuwesteyn forms the transition between Utrecht’s city center and Leidsche Rijn. As part of the Utrecht Leeuwesteyn urban development plan, we have worked on the development of 44 sustainable and nature-inclusive houses. These houses form a closed building block with all-round orientation. The resulting inner garden can be used collectively by the residents and designed by Flux Landscape. The block presents itself with large-scale and urban ensembles towards the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. In the adjacent alleys, a small-scale grain with an urban and intimate character was chosen. Height accents respond to the surroundings and accentuate the corners and main entrances to the courtyard. A “Delft sidewalk” forms the transition between public and private. Four distinctive architectural styles have been developed for the ensembles. The brick facades have a clear and vertical articulation. The types can be read individually but show strong similarities. This creates unity in diversity. The inner garden is enclosed by accoya wooden inner walls, matching the intimate atmosphere of the inner courtyard.
The casco of the fully circular houses is made of solid, sustainably produced CLT wood. The facades have a very high heat resistance and are fitted with brick slips with at least 60% recycled material and accoya wooden window frames. Rainwater is fully processed on site. It is stored on the sedum roofs of the houses, is stored via a water retention system that irrigates the plants in the courtyard and the excess water is discharged into the groundwater via a crate system. The inner garden is provided with native plants and designed in such a way that it should increase biodiversity. Nesting boxes are integrated in the architecture.
