ALMERE In 1976 the new town Almere was founded on the reclaimed land of the Flevopolder. The separation of the different types of traffic and the widespreaded single-family neighbourhoods made it difficult to create high quality urban spaces. Almere has long been, above all, a concentrated suburban settlement of single family houses. Within thirty years the city has grown rapidly and has now approximately 195.000 inhabitants, claiming its position as fifth-largest city of the Randstad.

This created the need to restructure the centre of Almere city, in order to cope with the new demands and densities. Based on a masterplan by OMA, a second (pedestrian) level and new functions have been introduced, creating a higher urban density. New mega-blocks, apartment-buildings, a theatre, leisure and retail shops have been designed by various local and international and architects, like for example SANAA, Christian de Portzamparc, Gigon Guyer and David Chipperfield.

New city centre Almere // architecture guided tour information / contact

The young city has always experimented a lot with different sorts of housing types. These experiments often resulted in new neighbourhoods with remarkable architecture. After 'The Reality', 'The Fantasy' and the 'Film quarter', the 'Eilandenbuurt' (Island District) is the most recent and outstanding example. Under the title 'Gewild Wonen' ('wished living') different architects incorporated the issue of flexibility into their designs. The private clients were highly involved in the design of their future homes, an uncommon situation in the Dutch architecture practice.

By now Almere is the self declared " self building city" and the possibilities for participation of the inhabitants and future citizens the focus and test field / field of experiments when developing new city districts. Almere Poort with aimed 11.000 new dwellings focusses on different target groups. First results are to be seen in the Homeruskwartier. The plans Schaalsprong 2.0 and Noordfleugel aim on further growth, a better link of Almere with Amsterdam and Utrecht and most important on new perspectives for potential inhabitants in most different phases of life with attractive opportunities for businesses and big firms, most different possibilities for sports and education.

Almere new town concepts // architecture guided tour information / contact

Topics: new towns, housing, experimental urbanism, participation, garden city, new town centre, living and working, sustainability.

Architecture designed by Alsop & Störmer Architects, de Architecten Cie, Benthem Crouwel, David Chipperfield, Claus en Kaan, Cees Dam, Jo Coenen, DS landschapsarchitecten, Gigon Guyer, Van Greiner en Van Goor Architecten, Herman Hertzberger, Koers Zeinstra Van Gelderen, Teun Koolhaas, Mecanoo, OMA Rem Koolhaas, Christian de Portzamparc, Jan Dirk Peereboom Voller, Marlies Rohmer, Van Sambeek en van Veen, SANAA Kazuyo Sejima, S 333, UN Studio Van Berkel & Bos, Atelier Zeinstra van der Pol and many others