Orange Architects has won a competition to deliver the master plan for an innovation district in Zwolle, Netherlands.
Set amongst a rewilded “canvas” landscape of native plantings, the plan for the WärtZ district (short for Wild, Art, Raw, Tech and Zwols) calls for an 850-unit housing component, educational spaces, hospitality venues, cultural venues, and hub for creative workers all a centered around an existing Wärtsilä Hall that will be transformed into the new landmark anchor of the total 23.5-acre development (about 9.5 hectares).
![All images courtesy of Vivid Vision All images courtesy of Vivid Vision](https://adsmith.news/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/t2776bnoqxk5uym8.jpg)
All images courtesy of Vivid Vision
AM and Dutch Railways (NS), the district’s commissioners, agreed on the master plan.The firm will collaborate with MVRDV, LOLA Landscape Architects, RHDHV, and several other local entities to complete the design, which is part of a larger Railway Zone Masterplan authored by NS and the city government.
![All images courtesy of Vivid Vision All images courtesy of Vivid Vision](https://adsmith.news/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/m05kfoq490f05sab.jpg)
All images courtesy of Vivid Vision
Orange Architects founding partner Patrick Meijers says: “With the sustainable and ambitious WärtZ plan, the entire team is fully committed to putting Zwolle on the map as the country’s fourth region. They propose a free, innovative, vibrant city district set in wild urban nature, with a mixture of culture, education, collective living and maker industry.”
Sebastiaan de Wilde, the director of Station Development for Dutch Railways (NS), adds: “This plan is ambitious, future-oriented and innovative. It shows how new forms of area development and construction contribute to meeting climate targets and housing challenges and offer solutions for accessibility problems. NS is enthusiastic about these plans, which we are facilitating together with the City of Zwolle, AM and many other partners. I look forward to a bright future for this innovation district right beside the station in Zwolle.”
![All images courtesy of Vivid Vision All images courtesy of Vivid Vision](https://adsmith.news/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/kbstink4offd6wi1.jpg)
All images courtesy of Vivid Vision
MVRDV and Orange Architects also recently unveiled plans for a mixed-use district targeting redevelopment efforts in Kyiv, Ukraine. The new WärtZ plan is expected to begin construction in 2026 pending any major change.
Some current competitions on Bustler that may interest you…
Museum of Emotions / Edition #4
Register by Tue, Jan 30, 2024
Submit by Mon, Mar 4, 2024
150,000€ Kingspan’s MICROHOME
Register by Mon, Apr 29, 2024
Submit by Thu, May 30, 2024
The Home of Shadows / Edition #2
Register by Wed, Dec 13, 2023
Submit by Tue, Jun 4, 2024
The Underbridge Housing Challenge
Register by Mon, Dec 11, 2023
Submit by Tue, May 28, 2024
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