VIVA Architecture: Parkwijk

Parkwijk is a sustainable new project in solid wood construction consisting of a mix of 74 residential units, of which 6 are ground-level homes, 12 stacked homes and 56 apartments. The Parkwijk site is located on the corner of Matenstraat and Tuinlei in Niel. The residential project focuses on quality living in a green park landscape, each with its own private outdoor space.

The Parkwijk site became vacant after the demolition of some 30 senior citizens' flats that no longer met today's standards. The municipality of Niel envisaged a new housing project realized by a project developer on the basis of a candidacy.

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After a thorough analysis of the site and its surroundings, a design was developed that focuses on a green park landscape. The Parkwijk site was provided with 5 building blocks with a mix of housing typologies, ranging from ground-level homes to homes for the disabled. Stacked living and Thuiswonen is a small-scale residential block that consists of alternately stacked and ground-bound homes with a private garden and a Tiny Forest behind. The stacked houses intertwine two houses on the surface of one. Because the houses each have their own entrance door on the ground floor, the feeling of the individual house is preserved.

On the corner of Matenstraat and Tuinlei, Etagewoonen and Hoekwonen were placed with a corner accent of 5 storeys. Hoekwonen forms the gateway to the project and translates as an attraction. On the ground floor, a bicycle shop with a repair area was provided adjacent to the bicycle café to accommodate cyclists from the bicycle route that runs along the Tuinlei. The corners on the floors were always opened up to offer an optimal view. Adjacent block C consists of a mix of apartments with an east-west orientation. The living areas were always provided on the park side.

Between the 2 long residential volumes, the largely floating residential building Gallery Living above the vast green inner area was designed as an apartment building with spacious apartments and studios. Because of this floating volume, views from the Matenstraat were preserved. Part of the ground floor of was envisioned as a commercial and communal space for the residents. The residential units are oriented north-south and look far into the green landscape. Gallery living was provided with galleries that serve as circulation and extra outdoor space.

A residential tower was planned in the form of Zichtwonen. This is a 360 degree open plan building and allows all residents to enjoy the entire site.

In order to give the diversity of residential blocks a uniform appearance, a combination of green glazed and light bricks was chosen, which recur in the Parkwijk site. Furthermore, a mix of green and white accents in the metalwork was opted for. The uniformity in materialization resulted in a strongly cohesive whole in a fascinating park landscape.

The flexibility of the design stems from the use of a structurally fixed grid that was used per building. This grid arose from the proposed decision to provide the construction of the building in solid wood construction (CLT).

Location : Niel

Area : 8.900 m²

Date : 2021 - 2022

Fact : Competition design

Client : Ciril

Team : Artuur, Avantgarden, Boydens, Vectris, Inclusio

Photography : Context Studio