Newly built districts with space-efficient mobility offers
2:14 min - 10/4/2018
3526 KM Utrecht: On the west side of the Merwedekanal (Adr. Kanaalweg 30), a new sustainable urban quarter is being built in a central location not far from Utrecht Central Station. An urban development plan for the redevelopment of an industrial area along the canal was drawn up by the municipality of Utrecht together with ten landowners.
The plan envisages a mixed district with 17 blocks. Here, 6,000 flats for about 12,000 residents are to be built. An urban quarter is to be created with a mixture of living, working and lingering. Size: 60 ha. In phase 1, about 4,250 flats will be built, followed by about 1,750 flats. Construction of the first flats in Merwede is scheduled to start in early 2023 and the first residents will be able to move in about two years later. Planned completion: ~2026
Even by Dutch standards, the city of Utrecht is surprisingly bike and pedestrian friendly, but in Merwede there are plans to improve this even further. While in much of the city motorists are treated as guests on 'pedestrian streets' - or cycle lanes - there will be virtually no cars in the soon-to-be redeveloped Merwede district. Shops, schools and other amenities are within easy walking distance and the centre of Utrecht, one kilometre to the north, can be reached after a short bike ride.
Spatially efficient forms of mobility
In order to keep the total area used for mobility at the same level despite the growing population, it is necessary that people choose more space-efficient forms of mobility (walking, cycling and public transport). The City of Utrecht wants inner-city densification to contribute to a healthy future in which economic vitality, tourist attractiveness, cultural vitality, quality of life, safety and sustainability in neighbourhoods and districts are interlinked ('Healthy Urban Living'). Walking and cycling for shopping, commuting and recreation will contribute to this.
Multimodal mobility hubs
The concept of multimodal mobility hubs is being pursued as an innovative solution for Merwede. These hubs focus among others on:
- Car sharing
- a high quality public transport connection
- On-call taxis (and in the longer term, self-driving on-call vehicles);
- Self-service pick-up kiosks for parcels
- Bicycle rental system
and - Availability of amenities for daily needs such as grocery stores or a coffee bar near the hub.
The area is to become a showcase for healthy and sustainable living with innovative concepts for recycling, energy production, climate adaptation and mobility solutions. It will not only become a pleasant place to live, but also act as a new link between the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Video (2018) about the new development "Merwede" in Utrecht (NL)
Newly built districts with space-efficient mobility offers
A new sustainable urban district is being built on the west side of the Merwedekanal in a central location not far from Utrecht Central Station. The plan is to create a mixed-use district with 6,000 to 9,000 homes for approximately 12,000 residents. The area will become a showcase for healthy and sustainable living with innovative concepts for recycling, energy production, climate adaptation and mobility solutions. Planned completion: by 2024
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Links
https://merwede.nl
2020 March: www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/forward-thinking-utrecht-builds-car-free-district-for-12000-people
2020 March: www.fastcompany.com/...new-dutch-neighborhood...
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 14. June 2024
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All planning agency project(s): ; City region: ; Country: Netherlands; Characteristics: 07-10-storey, Multi-storey housing, Rental apartments; typology: Quartier; Thematic: Car free living, CarSharing, Green roofs, Mobility, Mix of uses, Resource-efficient construction, Free of parking spaces
