UNStudio unveils plans for ‘the smartest neighbourhood in the world’ in the netherlands

UNStudio has revealed their masterplan for the ‘brainport smart district’ (BSD), which is currently being developed in helmond’s brandevoort district in the netherlands. envisioned as a unique dutch initiative for future urban living, the scheme proposes a flexible grid system that can be developed according to the needs of the residents, as opposed to a fixed plan. unlike traditional architecture, the project utilizes a step-by-step approach that will see design and construction go ‘hand-in-hand.’ by embracing experimentation and ‘learning by doing’, the development intends to forge a sustainable and unique living concept.

image © plomp (also main image)

the new neighborhood is planned based on the latest insights and techniques in the areas of ​​circularity, participation of (future) inhabitants, social cohesion and safety, health, data, new transport technologies and independent energy systems. all of these facets will contribute to the creation of a sustainable and unique living environment. the resulting urban vision has been created in collaboration between UNStudio (project lead and urban planning) and felixx landscape architects & planners, (ecology and landscape), metabolic (circularity and climate adaptation), habidatum (data analysis) and unsense (data and technology strategy).

image © plomp

over the next ten years BSD will develop 1,500 new homes and 12 hectares of business premises. the development will be characterized by the application of the latest technologies and knowledge in order to achieve a sustainable, circular and socially cohesive neighborhood that enjoys joint energy generation, food production, water management, joint digital data management and revolutionary transport systems.

brainport smart district masterplan, image © UNStudio

BSD will be a ‘living lab’: a mixed residential neighborhood organised around a central park and surrounded by business spaces and natural reserves. the district aims to develop a new relationship between buildings and landscape, whereby both strengthen each other qualitatively. the landscape is used as a productive environment for food, energy, water, waste processing and biodiversity.

urban vision, image © UNStudio

urban green spaces, image © felixx landscape architects and planners

urban shared space, image © felixx landscape architects and planners

urban living spaces, image © felixx landscape architects and planners

landscaped areas, image © felixx landscape architects and planners

masterplan, image © felixx landscape architects and planners

concept, image © felixx landscape architects and planners

site sections, image © felixx landscape architects and planners

low density landscaping, image © felixx landscape architects and planners

high density landscaping, image © felixx landscape architects and planners

project info:

project name: brainport smart district (BSD)

project type: mixed use innovation district 

location: helmond brandevoort, the netherlands

site area: 150 ha

architect: UNStudio

UNStudio design team: ben van berkel with dana behrman, misja van veen and maria zafeiriadou, pedro silva costa, chen shijie

landscape and ecology design: felixx landscape architects and planners

circularity: metabolic

data analysis and modelling: habidatum

client: BSD is a joint venture between the technische universiteit eindhoven, universiteit van tilburg, provincie noord-brabant, gemeente helmond en brainport development.