The center of Almere Buiten will gain 224 new homes with the arrival of BuitenBuren: a striking green residential building opposite Baltimoreplein. The project will become a ‘vertical neighborhood’ in the heart of the center, next to the new Culture House. The vast majority of the homes will be rented in the middle segment, the remaining part will be sold. J.P. van Eesteren will develop and realize the project, expected to be completed around 2030.
With apartments for starters and seniors among others, the building responds to the high housing demand in Almere. At the same time, it introduces a new living concept with plenty of space for greenery and smart solutions against heat and water nuisance. The project is part of the urban renewal of Almere Buiten Center.
Vertical ecosystem
Visitors enter the building through a large green gate that opens onto an inner garden full of trees and plants. This ‘neighborhood park’ forms the beating heart of the plan: a green outdoor space where residents and the neighborhood can meet. Climbing plants grow along the facades of BuitenBuren, connected to green roofs and terraces. This creates a cooling oasis. The building functions as a vertical ecosystem where architecture and nature go hand in hand. In addition, solar panels will be installed on the roof for energy generation.
The building is designed to stimulate daily contact between visitors and residents. There will be galleries and outdoor spaces inviting people to chat with each other. The first floor of the complex, the so-called plinth, is also designed for meeting. For example, there is space for a neighborhood shop, hospitality, creative workshops, and a care square. Central to this is the BuurtStek: an accessible space where residents can organize activities themselves, from communal dinners to workshops and coffee moments.
“BuitenBuren will strengthen the center of Almere Buiten in the near future. The project contributes to a lively center with room for greenery, care, facilities, and community. It also adds extra liveliness, giving a boost to entrepreneurs in the center. That is exactly the direction in which we want to further develop Almere Buiten,” says alderman Maaike Veeningen.
BuitenBuren has high ambitions when it comes to sustainability. The project uses the latest innovations in construction. An important part of this is the use of sustainably produced concrete, which significantly reduces CO2 emissions. Regular concrete production releases a lot of emissions.
Wooden skeleton construction and recycled materials are also used, reducing the need for new raw materials. The so-called GPR score (a score that maps the total sustainability of a building) is 8.6 out of 9 points, the maximum achievable.
“With BuitenBuren, we bring architecture, social interaction, and nature together in a natural way. Thanks to the high and integral sustainability ambitions, BuitenBuren will become the new green and social hotspot of Almere Buiten,” says Marco Peppel, CEO of J.P. van Eesteren.
Input on requirements
During several discussion evenings and online via https://www.stadsgesprekken.almere.nl, residents and entrepreneurs of Almere Buiten center could submit their wishes for the so-called request to the developer. This is a list of requirements and wishes shared by the municipality with project developers. Developers must base their design on this. It clearly emerged that these groups want the developer to build homes for starters and seniors.
Alderman Paul Tang is pleased that this wish is now coming true: “With the addition of 224 homes, we take an important step in increasing the housing supply in Almere. Every home counts. This project concretely contributes to shortening waiting times and providing perspective to starters and seniors who want to move within our city. BuitenBuren shows that we are making progress and adding quality to Almere.”
Other wishes were that BuitenBuren would be more than just a residential complex. The idea is to provide space for entrepreneurship, creativity, and meeting. These aspects have largely been incorporated into the design by J.P. van Eesteren.