year: 2009
client: municipality of Enschede
site: 't Vaneker, Enschede
commission type: competition entry
team: Marc van Asseldonk, Auguste van Oppen, Pim Goedhart

Along the northern fringes of Enschede lies ‘t Vaneker, a landscape characterised by an alternation of woods and stunning scenic views. The municipality expressed the desire to develop this area using the local Twente farming cluster typology. A competition was organised to interest private clients in new forms of housing. In addition, the question was posed on how to achieve coherence within a single cluster with different clients’ architects.

Bringing like-minded people together proved to be the primary tool to achieve this coherence. In this proposal, rules are not opposed from above, but the inhabitants are empowered to organise their own collectivity. Techniques commonly used in internet-communities are employed throughout the designing and building processes.

In the urban design published by the municipality, each farming cluster is surrounded by a zone composed of shrubbery and trees with an average height of three meters. This visual barrier would lead to the compromising of the attractive horizontal stratification of the landscape. In this proposal, a strategy is therefore formulated where the landscape can reclaim its central role. By placing private outdoor spaces on top of – instead of next to – the housing volumes, more space is reserved for a collective landscape. The principles of the landscape in Twente, where open spaces are alternated by tightly packed woods, are preserved while substantially increasing building density. In addition, because the concept envisions much smaller privately owned plots, the reduced land costs make the project attractive for a much larger demographic group.

As with traditional local farming houses, the kitchen forms the heart of the dwelling, providing access to every important space. At grade level, the evening spaces have a direct relationship with their surroundings through their open character and verandas. The spaces predominantly used during daytime have access to a roof garden. Here, beautiful views may be enjoyed upon the landscape.