De Caai - Eindhoven
With the start of construction of De Caai, Eindhoven presents the first city district with a cooperative public space. The new urban district derives its DNA from its past as a cooperative dairy, and is now emerging as a green, climate-adaptive neighbourhood that every resident co-owns. 700 homes, 80 percent of them affordable, nestle seamlessly in the greenery, among the existing industrial heritage.
Living, working and entertainment come together in the new, nature-inclusive urban district De Caai.
The new green urban district with mixed programme is located in the Kanaalzone, an area in transformation. A place between the city centre and the open countryside around Eindhoven. The public space, with relatively few streets and pavements in favour of a lot of collective space, plays a more than important role in the identity of De Caai. We design the public space to be low-car, creating many high-quality green spaces that carry the identity of De Caai. Parking is arranged as much as possible at the edges of the area, in the existing buildings and in a parking hub with a roof on which sports are played. The homes are connected to the same innovative water system.
Besides housing, De Caai includes 18,000m 2 of space for small-scale business, hospitality and a community of makers and designers working on sustainable innovations in food and health. Three architectural families characterise the plan: monumental heritage, low-rise new buildings and five eye-catching towers.
We have been able to stick to particularly high and innovative ambitions in terms of green space and climate adaptation by moving towards creating cooperative landscapes. The space around the buildings can be used collectively by, or transferred to, cooperatives formed by the building users.
– Steven Delva
By focusing on the cooperative, we respond to Campina’s history as a cooperative of farmers. We incorporated that thought through into the design: the many collective green spaces and water adaptation are at the heart of De Caai’s mentality. With the creation of the collective, DELVA makes it possible to set objectives around green space and the water task much higher than ‘Paris Proof’.
Two tree types give the plan a recognisable look. In the Canal Park, park trees in small groups and various types of solitary trees define the image. The largely native planting we are adding here has a diverse palette, thus contributing greatly to biodiversity and also creating a subtle transition from building to water. Instead, the greenery in the inner worlds has a more sober and sturdy character, in keeping with the area’s industrial past, and consists of characteristic clusters of trees and perennials, ornamental grasses and ferns.
For the innovative working landscape plan, DELVA and DHV combine their knowledge and creativity. KAAN Architecten, Mei architects & planners, LEVS architecten, Studioninedots and Groosman Architecten are responsible for the building designs in the plan. The first homes are expected to be built in summer 2024. The entire city neighbourhood will be completed in 2025.
- Location
- Eindhoven
- Status
- Under construction
- Client
- BPD Ontwikkeling B.V.
- Together with
- Municipality of Eindhoven, Royal HaskoningDHV, KAAN Architecten, Mei architects & planners, LEVS architecten, Groosman Architecten