New residential islands in the Spaarndammerbuurt

Houthaven The Key to Success

Project Office Houthaven

Stadsdeel West

Houthaven

Main features

• Development of the South Bank of the IJ river

• Former timber handling area of Amsterdam

‘Island’ - 1991 ‘Piers’ - 1993 ‘Islands’ - 1994 ‘Dock’ - 1995

Early nineties: the first outline of transformation ambition

Milieu-eisen

• Covenant: agreement with the adjacent industry

• Sound barrier: Blok 0, high building of 26 meter

• Tunnel + Park: improved air quality, noise reduction, improved traffic flow, urban connection

• Phased development to guarantee air quality

Legal environmental requirements for urban development

Main features

• 7 islands

• 2200 dwellings

• 70 house boats

• 50.000 m2 facilities, no retail

• Tunnel and park

• Low traffic tolerance

• Realisation 2013-2023

• And of course: 100% climate neutral (public area and building-related energy use)

Tunnel

Houthaven 100% climate neutral

The Key to Success (1)

1. Personal commitment by the Project Office

2. Support from local authorities

3. Recognition by National Government, resulting in:

Houthaven 100% climate neutral

The Key to Success (2)

4. Houthaven acknowledged as “Excellent Area” – a

national example of sustainable development;

Benefits: Publicity, legislative support, knowledge exchange

5. Houthaven approached as demonstration site for

EU Grant.

6. Climate Neutral building is slowly becoming a “fait

accompli”

EU FP7 GRANT

“NEXT Zero Energy Building”,

demonstration of very low energy

new buildings.

Ambition NEXT-Buildings

• Realisation of cost effective zero carbon energy new buildings, that have a high potential of replication.

• Social and economic issues should therefore also be addressed to assure scaling up potential.

• Energy behaviour monitoring and systems integration through smart technologies.

Benefits of becoming a demonstration site of 30.000 m2

(total 240.000 m2) EU NEXT Zero Energy Building

(European) publicity

Acknowledgment of our ambition

Climate neutral becomes a “fait accompli” for everyone

Unique Selling Point for urban development in

Amsterdam

Knowledge Exchange (i.e. monitoring behaviour)

Financial support EU € 50,- / m2

Boost for the ambition of Houthaven

Houthaven 100% climate neutral

The Key to success

Development of area necessary due to increasing costs (interest rates) of plots not being sold

Economic Crisis: a new approach is needed aimed at

• Controlling financial risks, targetting at higher turn over

• Flexible dwellings

• Customized Demand Oriented versus fear of creating a precedent

New Approach Development Blok 0

Climate Neutral Approach

Development Blok 0

Windmills & solar panels

Landmark building

Schedule

• Start construction of islands: 2013

• Contract for building tunnel: 2012

• Start building tunnel: 2013

• Start building Blok 0, Elementary School and High School: 2013

• Phased realisation of islands and buildings: 2013 to 2023

Houthaven 100% climate neutral

The Key to Success

Bottom line: a positive attitude, active liaisons, an

open mind, focus and most of all… seeing

opportunities and grabbing them.

Organise your support. Organise your value chain.

Meanwhile in the Houthaven…

www.houthaven.nl