How do you build within the city and affordably, in a low-traffic area and with an eye for biodiversity, net-conscious and fast? In Utrecht developers, municipality, concrete technologists and special environmental psychologists join forces in area development Merwede. The secret? "A lab... Competitors work together as colleagues here."
Experts say that the Utrecht 'Merwede' is the Champions League of area development. The ambitions of the prestigious inner-city housing project are sky-high and that also applies to the buildings of mainly sustainable concrete that are needed for the total of six thousand homes that are rising there. And not only that. As a future residential district, the former industrial area also wants to be livable and green, with a very low parking standard and a smart energy system that must deal with "hassles" such as grid congestion.
Does that happen automatically? No. There was even a moment when all parties involved threatened to pull out. "This is madness," they said in private. "It really needs a change of tack..." And so it happened. All involved joined hands and promised improvement.
Liquid
Still nothing comes naturally in the heart of the country, but under pressure even the most difficult area developments become fluid, as the story of Merwede shows.
In the latest episode of Bureau Stoer, Mirjam Schmüll, (program manager of the so-called Merwede Lab) and Niel Glas, (project manager on behalf of the municipality of Utrecht) talk candidly about the special and high-profile project. With the main question: what is Merwede's secret?
Curious about the whole story? Listen to the latest episode of the podcast Bureau Stoer.
Bureau Stoer episode 11: The secret of Merwede
Table guests: Mirjam Schmüll (program manager of the Merwede Lab), Niel Glas (project manager Merwede municipality of Utrecht) and Nicole Maarsen (area development expert).
Presentation: Thomas van Belzen
Editing: Kalynda Haaf (HaafVisual)
Also listen to earlier episodes of Bureau Stoer.
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