LOLA

The municipality of Rotterdam has chosen KOER as the winner for the development of the vacant plot between Laan op Zuid and Hilledijk, called Parkstad Blok I. Out of three participating parties KOER by VORM, V8 Architects, Studio Architectuur MAKEN and LOLA Landscape Architects was chosen as best. The block with 167 homes distinguishes by a spacious and richly planted courtyard and natural roofs.

In KOER 167 households will live together in small, well-organized clusters of neighbors. The ‘Grandeur’ on Laan op Zuid will include a mobility hub with various forms of shared mobility, a language school where people from the neighborhood help each other, and workplaces from home to work quietly. In ‘Villa Residu’ residents have a collective workplace.

KOER is ready for the climate. This means that the roofs of the houses, the inner garden and the facade gardens will be climate-adaptive, with plenty of space for water and biodiversity. KOER brings back the lost biotopes from the time when the place was still a shunting yard back to its roofs and offers a space for urban nature in the inner garden.

The collective courtyard is open and connected to the adjacent Hilledijkpark. The garden walls of recycled stacked stones, the wooden pergola and a specially designed brick stone with nesting areas provide space for Rotterdam plants and animals. The longest façade garden in the Netherlands will be built around the block: a lushly planted welcome that also collects all the water during downpours.

KOER was designed based on the idea of limiting energy and material use, but not making concessions with regard to the comfort and health of residents. For example, the KOER homes have a flexible concrete and wood supporting structure that makes future adjustments easy. ‘Villa Residu’ is completely built with recycled materials: 100% circular. VORM is expected to start construction in the first half of 2022.

I.c.w.: Vorm,  V8 , Architectuur MAKEN, Bureau Stadsnatuur, DGMR, Pieters Bouwtechniek , Hely