On the edge of the historic Nimmerdor forest in Amersfoort lies Common Woods, a circular, nature-inclusive neighbourhood of 56 homes, including detached villas, townhouses, and apartments across social, mid-range, and private sectors. At the heart of the plan lies a new logic of parcelation: not based on a rigid grid, but on cluster. Invisible plot boundaries allow the forest to flow into the plan, forming ‘boskamers’; intimate forest rooms around buildings. A central square, paired with a communal greenhouse, serves as a social anchor, fostering community life. By breaking down volumes, Common Woods integrates compact villas and apartment blocks into the surrounding urban fabric, creating a sensitive transition between forest and adjacent neighbourhoods.
The architecture draws inspiration from its context while establishing a distinct identity: subtly expressive, occasionally playful, and quietly poetic. Along Leusderweg, facades adopt a more formal rhythm, while elevations facing the forest are shaped from the inside out; windows frame the landscape. Terraces and balconies animate the inner streetscape, creating layered public-private thresholds; activating and facilitating the communal life in the new neighbourhood.
The material palette is rooted in the site: earthy reds, smoky blacks, and sandy beiges echo the forest’s bark, soil, and seasonal greenery. This natural palette reinforces the connection between architecture and landscape.
Built largely in CLT, the biobased wooden homes reduce the environmental footprint while offering a warm, tactile living experience. The project includes habitable façades, nesting elements, and native plantings to support local wildlife.
Common Woods was developed through a co-creative process with future residents and a multidisciplinary team. The guiding question — what does it mean to truly live in a forest? — shaped a plan where living, nature, and community seamlessly intertwine.
