Panorama Courtyards

The local landscape qualities of the site on the Lutkedijk in Obdam form the departure point for a new urban development plan. Firstly, there is an unobstructed view of the surroundings on all sides of the plot – providing the potential to create homes of the plot with views out to a “borrowed landscape”. The trees on the plot adjacent to the South side are striking, whilst an opening in the tree lot offers a view to a park-like garden. On the West side there is unobstructed views to meadows. And on the East side, the view of the industrial halls of the adjacent plot is obstructed by a row of trees.

On the Northern and Western ends of the plot there is a ditch, whilst access is currently done on the North-Eastern side. The plot has great potential for sunlight on the East side in the afternoon, when the sun is higher in the sky and has passed the buildings present on this side.

The development of the urban plan has taken into account a variety of parameters. For example, the allotment must be accessible for emergency services, whilst at the same time climate-adaptive measures should be implemented in the new buildings. To balance between the two needs, the urban plan uses paving only where necessary for access and planting where possible in order to collect and buffer rainwater. The plants simultaneously provide a pleasant living environment and reduce heat stress.

In order to leave as much room as possible for the landscape, view and space, the plan introduces built-up space in the shape of a finger-like structure. One hundred homes fit on the plot in three different typologies: homes for the elderly, social owner-occupied homes and patio homes for private sector sale. In terms of massing, the homes for the seniors are placed together around a community living room, whilst social housing is grouped in blocks of 2-4 houses along the streets. The patio houses are placed at the bottom end of the streets.

To create a varied view from the street, the volumes have sloping roofs that angle towards different directions, as well as a staggered rhythm within the building volumes.

The patio houses have an L-shaped plan which provides space for 2 covered parking places within the building site. As a result, cars will be neatly tucked away within the building volume, allowing for views of the landscape to be prioritized.The L-shaped floor plan becomes a square by extending the edge walls and enclosing a patio. Oriented towards the sunny side of the plot, the patios provide green space nestled between the two building sides. Each dwelling has the entrance placed in the heart of the L-shaped plan, providing access to the public part of the house (kitchen, living room) as well as the private part of the house on the first floor, via a staircase.

By scattering newly planted trees across the plot in a careful composition, the car access is guided and the speed is slowed down. The green areas on the plot respond to the green in the surrounding areas.