Developed by SDK Vastgoed, the seven buildings – named Indigo, Violet, Bleu, Rouge, Orange, Jaune, and Vert – express a gradual transition in scale that allows the dense new development to blend into the low-rise, historic architecture of Bergen. Vert and Jaune, located next to Grote Berg street at the heart of the neighbourhood, are transformations of two buildings constructed in the 20th century; both served as the neighbourhood’s police station at different periods in time. They are connected by the recreated façade of a building that once filled the space in between – creating a colonnade-like structure that maintains the memory of the ensemble as it once was.

The jagged rooflines of these five buildings are created using a systematic approach to daylight access: roof surfaces trace a 45-degree angle from the base of neighbouring structures, ensuring bright, sunlit homes and public spaces and making Nieuw Bergen feel open and airy in spite of its density and intimate street layout. These sloping roofs also provide ideal surfaces for photovoltaic panels, and for green roofs which add to the biodiversity of the neighbourhood.

The peaks of three of these roofs feature open roof terraces, with glass parapets serving as windbreaks. These provide communal spaces on Bleu and Rouge, with the roof of Bleu also including a glass-enclosed greenhouse for communal gardening. These opportunities for residents to meet together, host events, and cultivate gardens helps to stimulate social cohesion among residents. Commercial spaces, located in the ground floors of Indigo, Violet, Bleu, Vert, and Jaune, will also benefit from the sunny, largely car-free public spaces that encourage visitors to linger, while also providing ample room for dining and drinking terraces.