MIDDELBURG SINT LAURENS THE CREEK RIDGE THAT BLOOMS IN A REGENERATIVE WATER LANDSCAPE

Read more on this project: Sketch masterplan for a sustainable Sint Laurens

Team Project with Except Integrated Sustainability

Role: Lead Urban Planner and Urban Designer

Client: Middelburg Municipality

(2022, Middelburg, Netherlands)

The Context

The Netherlands is facing challenges in expanding its housing stock in a future-proof manner - strategically, qualitatively, and sustainably. In collaboration with the municipality of Middelburg, we researched and designed an expansion plan for the village of Sint Laurens in Zeeland, which is challenged in terms of water management, facilities, and soil shrinkage.

This expansion improves the sustainability performance of the entire town in terms of groundwater, energy, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Other core factors are sustainable food production and an inclusive community. The Orchid City sustainable city framework was utilized to achieve this.

About The Project

In Sint Laurens’ expansion district ‘De Kreekrug bloeit’, residents will live amongst a regenerative landscape, offering a range of features to enhance recreation, food production, and access to fresh water. Additionally, it provides a place for an inclusive and active community, exchange, and education and ensures residents have access to all they need for a sustainable life.

Due to the high salinity of the groundwater, freshwater is scarce in the province of Middelburg. However, Sint Laurens has access to a pocket of freshwater that sits atop saline groundwater, making localized regenerative food production possible. The village will collect rainwater in wadis and rainwater buffers for irrigation, ensuring a climate-adaptive village and sufficient freshwater availability for food production.

The east side of the village has polluted soils, limiting the possibility for open field agriculture but providing a ridge for traffic sound deadening and space for biological greenhouses and helophyte filters. In addition, constructed wetlands nearby will filter organic material, nutrients, and heavy metals from the brackish water.

When assessing from a systemic perspective, material flows are closed by applying existing technologies in a productive landscape. The freshwater storage in the creek ridge is absolutely crucial. This nature function enables local agriculture, providing food and compost. PVT panels and a biomass reactor provide the village with renewable energy and heat. Compost and wastewater close the flows through reuse with bioreactors and helophyte filters and actively improve soil quality.

100% productie groente en fruit

120% voorziening energie & warmte open community

The district located on Noordweg offers a unique blend of energy production, community facilities, and regenerative nature. The plan is designed in such a way that these three aspects of the district are organically intertwined, creating a harmonious and sustainable living space for residents. The community facilities and vegetable gardens are situated along the winding connecting road, which is surrounded by homes that are seamlessly integrated into the food and water landscape. The biogas installation and greenhouses are carefully sheltered from the ecological zone, where new water habitats are being created. The result is a district that not only generates its own energy but also provides ample opportunities for communal living and a thriving ecosystem.