Gouda Van Loon

a diverse ensembe of 172 apartments

The plan proposes three residential buildings situated in a green landscape which are housing 172 dwellings. One of the blocks is social housing where all the 43 dwellings are designed for people with special needs, including space for E-mobility like scooters and E-bikes and a communal outdoor space at the waterside.
The buildings share a spacious parking facility with 235 parking spots on two levels which is surrounded by a green facade and covered with a green roof so the cars stay out of the view from the neighboring buildings.

 

construction site update september 2023

urban vision and composition

The three blocks vary in height, volume and shaping, based on the urban embedment.
While the volumes of the three buildings are diverse, the buildings unite in their sense of orientation, materials and architectural detailing. Each block has its own recognizable identity with an all -sided architectural expression based on the facade composition that highlights the individual home. The ensemble has the same architectural language throughout and forms a coherent entity.
The composition of plan takes solar exposure, sightlines and vegetation into consideration with the emphasis to not only redevelop the landscape on the own plot, but to make an integral plan for the vegetation on and around the location.

Nature inclusive design and sustainability

The new residential area is designed in a sustainable way considering the local fauna. Nesting 'facilities' for a variety of birds, insects and mammals are integrated into the facade. The landscape design incorporates plants and elements to protect and encourage the local fauna. It creates a lively green surrounding, not only for the residents of the new building blocks but for everyone in the neighborhood.
All buildings are energy efficient with an integrated heat pump system for heating in combination with solar panels on the roof.

participation process

As with all our big projects VO-a team has gone through a complex but proactive participation process which had a big role in the final massing of the project. All the involved parties (the developer VastBouw, VO-a, municipality, local authorities, and interested members of the neighborhood) had a different perspective on the important characteristics of this development and had to unite and balance their vision to reach a successful outcome. A heat map was created to address the most important points for the residents of the area like open views for the whole neighborhood, privacy, and as much as possible direct sunlight for every dwelling around.  In close collaboration with TNO implementing the TNO LIGHT guidelines, a spacious model is developed to find the best shape and position for the buildings.