Dutch architecture firm MVRDV envisioned a way of combining urban and green characteristics with a series of grass covered roofs on a new complex.
Modern day architects and city planners around the world are more and more looking for ways to incorporate nature into their future designs. With the world’s population at 7.5 billion and climbing and urban centers bearing the brunt of that population explosion, finding new ways for cities to expand without completely compromising the environment is becoming increasingly attractive. It’s also a good way to help with things like air quality, and green buildings often just look better than traditional concrete structures.
The Dutch architecture firm MVRDV recently showed off its vision for a residential tower complex in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, which includes a combination of traditional architecture and green. The 29,000 square meter “Nieuw Bergen” is part of an urban renewal plan. The complex will reuse existing buildings and add new structures, offering seven buildings in total. The goal is to offer 40 homes and 17,000 square meters for commercial use, alongside 270 square meters of urban farming.
The new structure will feature jagged glass covered roofs built at a 45-degree angle, designed to bring the most light to the neighboring buildings, as well as the most natural light possible to the residential towers. Some of the rooftops of the buildings will also feature community gardens and greenhouses.
“Natural light plays a central role in Nieuw Bergen, as [the structures] follow a strict height limit and a design guideline that allows for the maximum amount of natural sunlight, views, intimacy and reduced visibility from street levels,” said MVRDV co-founder Jacob van Rijs. “Pocket parks also ensure a pleasant distribution of greenery throughout the neighborhood and create an intimate atmosphere for all.”
Nieuw Bergen will also feature several other nods to sustainability, including solar panels, recharge stations for electric cars, and a rainwater collection system that will be collect and reuse the water throughout the structure.
While designed with an eco-friendly slant in mind, the structure is also built to be as aesthetically appealing as possible, both for the city in general and the complex’s potential residents. Apartments will feature balconies to offer residents their own outdoor areas, and the buildings will be made out of a combination of glazed ceramics, stone, wood, and concrete.
It’s not quite as ambitious as some of the other designs that incorporate nature – like the vertical forests of Milan and soon Nanjing – but it does blend nature and design. Plus, it just looks cool.