Area development of Wilderszijde residential area
Climate-adaptive and nature-inclusive on three scales
Area development of Wilderszijde residential area
Wilderszijde is an area development in Bergschenhoek, just north of Rotterdam, where approximately 3,000 homes are being built. The municipality of Lansingerland formulated ambitious sustainability goals for this residential area and selected Witteveen+Bos to design Wilderszijde in a climate-adaptive and nature-inclusive manner.
Wilderszijde is located in the middle of a green corridor between the Lage Bergse Bos and Schieveen Nature Park, with the shape of the site reminiscent of a bow tie. The location for Wilderszijde is on the spur of this bow tie. Therefore, in addition to its residential function, the neighbourhood also plays a crucial role in the ecological and landscape connection between these nature areas.
Wilderszijde consists of 16 neighbourhoods that will be realised between 2024 and 2028. Witteveen+Bos's assignment on this project is comprehensive: creating the integrated design for the public space, the main infrastructure and the structures. We also provided the integrated design for the construction sites on behalf of the developers. In all cases, this was done in such a way that life, living and nature reinforce each other.
Three levels of scale
To achieve this, a holistic ecological approach has been applied at all scale levels. At each level (above the neighbourhood, neighbourhood, district), strategies have been developed to create targeted habitats and enable animal migration and daily interaction with humans. With this holistic ecological approach as a basis, nature becomes a natural part of everyday life. As part of the living environment, not alongside it.
The foundation for this ecological approach is the design of a robust main green structure. A structure that connects the neighbourhood with the living and residential environment. Wildlife passages have been designed at locations where ecological bottlenecks could arise for the animal population. This allows animals to move freely in and out of the neighbourhood.
Ecological solutions as standard
Ecological solutions are extensively integrated into our designs as standard; think of the streets, bridges, gardens and houses. Universal application and scalability have been an important aspect of the various design solutions. As has the pursuit of strong cohesion between the design of the public space and the buildings.
An example of our holistic ecological approach: the main cycle path runs alongside a waterway with wide, nature-friendly banks, where bats hunt mosquitoes. Rows of trees along the cycle path guide the bats past the houses. The houses are equipped with bat boxes, including bat-friendly lighting on the façade.
Habitat for humans and animals
By applying targeted and species-specific measures above the neighbourhood, in the neighbourhood and in the surrounding areas, we are building structural resilience and biodiversity. With an eye for both land- and water-bound species and the connection between the different environments. Not only humans but also animals have their year-round habitat in Wilderszijde.
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