Schorsmolen (NL)

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Data

SCHORSMOLEN (NL)

Scales L/S

Team representative Architect, urbanist, landscaper
Location Schorsmolen, Breda
Population City 45 000 inhabitants

Reflection site 25 ha - Project site 5,15 ha

Site proposed by Municipality of Breda
Actors involved Municipality Breda, Housing corporations
Owner(s) of the site Municipality Breda, Housing corporations

Commission after competition Follow up design (or research by design) assignment on implementation at the pro- ject site (or a site with similar challenges) commissioned by the municipality of Breda and/or private partners. All Dutch locations are situated in the urban region called SRBT. The SRBT is an urban regional network of 1 million inhabitants. Each sites represents prototypical design challenges within this region.

More Information

Inhabited milieu's challenges

The Schorsmolen district in the centre of Breda is categorized as a ‘weak’ neighbourhood. Schorsmolen has very vulnerable liveability of all neighbourhoods within Breda. Low liveability, low social cohesion and low safety are the main problems in the area. In Schorsmolen there is little or no usable greenery and almost no recreational opportunities.All public areas are dominated by (inappropriate) parking, speeding traffic, alcohol consumption very vulnerable and waste on the street. The residents experience the neighbourhood as very unsafe.
Although the Schorsmolen district is classified as a ‘weak’ neighbourhood, it has one of the highest percentages of young people present In the neighbourhood. Because Schorsmolen is very close to the old city centre of Breda, it offers a very good chance of densification and realise an healthy mix of housing typologies. There is a need for transformation strategy at the neighbourhood level, which aims to reduce the parking spaces increase the quality public spaces, increase green public space and add substantial number of new homes.
Connecting, Densifying, Greening and Orienting are the basis principles for tackling the challenges and opportunities of the Schorsmolen district.
The local housing corporations have crucial locations along the Middellaan. The housing corporation can play an important role in developing and experimenting with alternative ‘typologies for living-together’. By participatory process with the local residents.

Questions to the competitors

Propose a strategy at block level, that offer new forms of affordable, urban living with a greater mix of housing types and resolves the current problematic relationships between public and private and introverted nature at the street level in creating an attractive and socially inclusive neighbourhood.
Consider the potential role of the Middellan, given its historical significance, in designing a long-term urban transformation strategy for the area.
Propose a new vision on the public space, streets and provision for parking by re-considering the balance of hard (asphalt) and soft (green) surfaces for Schorsmolen as a whole.
Include a phasing strategy for the implementation of the urban transformation strategy allowing for participation of local residents.
In the emerging new urban context where Schorsmolen is in-between; ‘t Zoet, the and the existing city centre of Breda consider new opportunities for Schorsmolen.
There are many places in the region and Netherlands that are dealing with similar questions of over heating and degradation. Innovative bottom-up proposals and processes can trigger broader implementations of community building, multi-generational living and new typologies.

Questions on the site

Is there any rules and regulations (Like height of buildings or lot coverage) applying for the site? can we demolish the existing buildings?

Hight of buildings

The current regulations are to conserve the existing building heights. If you have a good idea to improve the neighborhood than we can imagine to add some higher buildings. Schorsmolen is close to the historic city center of Breda. Higher buildings can only be placed  after careful consideration.

Demolish the buildings:

The buildings in the area are owned by housing corporations. he buildings, which were constructed in the 1980s, are in good physical condition. However, their social and sustainability conditions are weak. You have to make a good plan or you should have good reasons to demolish these buildings. Maybe you have to build some higher buildings or transform some buildings or build new houses to also get a good business case. We asked for a longterm perspective, so maybe in the future it is an option to demolish buildings.

3d Model of the city

Can be found in the additional material via complete site folder. 

Drawings of the existing blocks

Can be found in the additional material via complete site folder. 

This site is connected to the following theme

IMAGINE A SECOND LIFE! !
Transforming neighbourhoods and buildings towards an inclusive milieu

A Second Life! is a metamorphosis of a situation. The challenge is to regenerate and to support spaces in need of transformation from a new perspective towards the pre-existences and the hidden treasures that are already there. A new revalorization of all kind of resources – natural, heritage, energy, flows, economy, social… It means to reconsider uses and new proximities linking ecological and social dynamics. How to be attentive and welcoming to differences and vulnerabilities nourished by inhabited milieus facing climate change?

Specific documents

Questions on the site

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Fr. 2 June 2023
Deadline for submitting questions

Fr. 16 June 2023
Deadline for answers

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