MVRDV and SDK Vastgoed (VolkerWessels) won the competition for the redevelopment of the inner city area around Deken van Someren Street in Eindhoven which is set to become high-quality and sustainable residences for the city’s inhabitants. Nieuw Bergen is a contemporary and progressive residential development combining urban and green qualities in the neighborhood of Bergen. With innovative architecture and design, it is also a place where a visible sustainability ethos is taken as its starting point.

Nieuw Bergen is set to become a unique part of the city centre of Eindhoven and combines the values of renovated and transformed buildings with new constructions. The 29,000m2 project of seven buildings will include 240 new homes, 1,700m2 commercial program, 270m2 urban farming and underground parking. The urban strategy applied here is based on the knowledge and innovation necessary for establishing a sustainable, pleasant and dynamic living environment for future residents. The design approach echoes Eindhoven’s status as a city of technology, design and knowledge. Nieuw Bergen will get a hyper-modern feel and continues the informal character of the Bergen neighbourhood.   

‘Natural light plays a central role in Nieuw Bergen, as volumes 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,” says Jacob van Rijs, co-founder of MVRDV. ‘Pocket parks also ensure a pleasant distribution of greenery throughout the neighborhood and create an intimate atmosphere for all.’

Imaginary planes at an angle of 45 degrees are drawn from the foot print of neighboring residential buildings which leads to natural light principles  that results in unpredictable building forms with jagged silhouettes, a modern and optimistic atmosphere. At the same time these refer traditional pitched roofs. The 45-degree angle results in maximum sunlight for both houses and public space hence creating an optimum environment with significant energy savings as a result. The oblique roof planes are ideally suited for installing solar panels and also accommodate green roofs. This concept is an evolution of the urban strategy tool MVRDV has been developing and actively applies in cities in need of sustainable densification.

Individual buildings within Nieuw Bergen are different, yet they all collectively form a family of buildings that fit into the existing context like a mosaic. The sloping roofs reinforce this diversity and create a varied roof landscape. The diverse roofscape with solar panels and green make for an eye-catching and sustainable character. Angled roofs are less visible from the ground floor and result in a more intimate city. Collective gardens and greenhouses with lamella roof structures crown a number of buildings. A conscious choice of neutral colors and textured materials with subtle differences inform the striking glazed ceramic facades. Other façade materials incorporate stone, wood and concrete elements and the colour palette varies from white to gray; and shiny to rough. Wall openings also follow this diversity of architecture and varied positioned balconies with generous outdoor spaces create a vivid and attractive living environment.