Plan Tide by Stijlgroep landscape and urban design is one of several projects selected by the jurors of the Suburbia 2.0 competition, an international competition for built and unbuilt residential landscapes. Suburbia 2.0 was held by James Rose Center for landscape architectural research and design. Plan Tide was former sports fields envisioned as unique and distinctive landscape orientated residential area.
The Plan Tide concept came from the idea that the developer simply couldn’t go out and build anywhere in the countryside, therefore sort to use an existing landscape and create an urban development with a natural quality of living. The urban development plan for 96 homes in the upper price segment (€350,000.00 / €800,000.00) was based on the buyers’ desire to live in the country. The former sports fields included re-naturalizing and opening the polder to make a freshwater tide area thus creating a distinctive residential area.
The high and low tide determine the experiential quality of the living environment whilst also creating a natural development as a collective public space. Reeds, tidal plants, scrub bushs and swamp forest interspersed by open water dominate the image and atmosphere of the area.
The homes have private outdoor spaces orientated to the landscape. The tidal landscape is housed in the collective and common ownership: residents are responsible for the maintenance and management of their landscape. Thus landscape and water have become a sort of social connection and sustainability.
In addition to being selected for the Surburbia 2.0 competition, Plan Tide was also awarded with the first prize during the conference ‘Water, Wonen & Ruimte 2011’. The evaluation of the 20 member strong jury was focused as well on the relationship between water/ urban planning and landscape as on the value of real estate and urban developments. Due to the creative manner water has been used as the main feature in the urban development, Plan Tide has been chosen as winner out of the numerous other submitted plans.
Plan Tide (Dordrecht, Netherlands) is a development of De Koning Wessels Vastgoed. The urban plan has been designed by Stijlgroep landscape and urban design and the architecture by Klunder Architects.
Images Courtesy of Stijlgroep landscape and urban design.
Suburbia 2.0 competition exhibition will open on May 19 at 4pm at James Rose Center