Plan for Netherlands creative district prioritizes climate adaption

A local team based out of Rotterdam in the Netherlands has won the chance to design a new creative district based in the same city. Plans highlight social inclusion and climate adaptation to fight the area’s population densification issues. The design team consists of ECHO urban design, Orange Architects, More Architecture, Studio Nauta and MoederscheimMoonen Architects.

This district, ZoHo, aims to become a place where existing local businesses and creative professionals can harmonize with new neighborhood residents. Throughout the past decade, this area has served as a haven for the city’s creative professional community who work in studios and workshops. New population density challenges in the surrounding regions have caused local officials to reimagine ZoHo into a more inclusive residential neighborhood.

Redesign plans focus on social inclusivity and climate adaptation, all while preserving the district’s unique identity. Several spaces have been identified to accommodate multiple ambitions that can withstand long-term development, building upon pre-existing community structures. New layers will stack to keep the creative population unaffected while allocating additional residential buildings. Housing plans range from social and privately-owned micro-apartments to larger townhouses that can combine studios with living spaces.

One of the plan’s more impressive aspects includes an elevated rooftop park, which will act as a sponge for the flood-prone area. An underground reservoir and irrigation system will work as a backup for extreme drought in the summer. The concept works independently, not connected to the city’s sewer system.

Social inclusion is achieved through a thoughtful mix of social housing, work spaces and collected spaces. Additionally, a shared mobility hub between cars, bikes and scooters will encourage more sustainable transportation to combat carbon emissions.

Images via ECHO

Written by Katherine Gallagher