Rotterdam Zuidwijk dates back to the 1960s and is characterized as a true garden city by its stacked housing in an open layout, communal gardens, and large amount of public green space.

However, the housing stock no longer meets the requirements of the present day; the living environment is subject to wear and tear and is increasingly perceived as unsafe. To reverse this process, work has been underway for years on a total restructuring of the area. The urban development plan De Velden Zuidwijk by De Nijl Architects served as the basis for our assignment. Through minimal adjustments, this plan provides for a sustainable and green residential neighborhood. Sustainability is inherent in the combination of renovation and new construction and in the differentiation of the housing program, with greenery serving as a common unifying element.

Our assignment in Zuidwijk consisted of a simultaneous development of renovation and demolition-new construction within an urban design framework. The renovation concerns 54 maisonettes on Brekelsveld and Biezeveld. A key intervention was the creation of individual staircases for the lower maisonettes. These homes were previously accessed via a gallery. By transforming this gallery into a balcony, with a small staircase for each home directly from the public space, a pleasant transition between outside and inside is created. This provides the home with additional outdoor space and brings more life to the ground level.

Furthermore, the connection of the homes to the inner courtyard has been renewed: the back gardens are given a uniform boundary that also incorporates the storage units.

A thorough facade renovation, the refurbishment of the entrance portal, and additional insulation were also on the agenda. All with respect for the characteristic post-war reconstruction architecture.
With relatively minor interventions, the two residential buildings of Vestia can thus last for decades to come.