Huis van Hendrik with courtyard garden wins Lieven de Key Medal 2014!

SeptimA Sepia paver in top design

On 18 November 2014, during the presentation of the Lieven de Key Medal at the town hall in Haarlem, the project “Huis van Hendrik” was awarded two prizes. Both the professional jury and the public chose the Huis van Hendrik as a winner.

It is the first time in the history of this prize that a project has won a prize from both the professional jury and the public. It can rightly be referred to as unique.

The jury report on the Huis van Hendrik:

“An unprecedentedly high level of ambition and the very best execution and finish. The project has a very positive appearance for the direct environment and the neighbourhood. It is urban architecture of a quality that is rarely seen nowadays.”

“The community courtyard provides an oasis of calm.”

The Huis van Hendrik urban regeneration project in Parkwijk is located in an area of redevelopment in Haarlem. The large building complex with 106 residences was designed by Heren5 architects in Amsterdam and, with its folded facades, fits into the surrounding area perfectly.

In order to make this new building, which is located on a busy street, more appealing the Ymere housing association was tasked with designing a beautiful urban garden.

The courtyard is created as a collective garden for the neighbourhood and residents. In the evening, the garden gates are locked and it can only be used by the residents. It is a peaceful garden that invites you to walk, sit, take in the profusion of flowers and listen to the burbling water of the fountain.

In the corner, near the enormous maple tree, a subtle natural play area has been set up for small children. The path system in the garden, created with paving bricks, offers various routes to the car park and the entrances and exits to the street. The oval shape of the pathways ensures that the space in the garden is dissected as little as possible. The area thus remains unified.

The paths take an organic form, with bends and wider areas. Part of the path widens into a stopping point with a bench and a fountain, where residents can enjoy the sun in the garden.

There are six private gardens with mid-height hedgerows to screen them from the courtyard. Existing trees and the neighbouring green areas were included in the plan. The maple tree that was threatened with removal due to the demolition work, was transplanted from the street side to the garden and now gives the area an appealing sense of scale. The garden is full of colour and yet low-maintenance according to the ‘Carefree Green’ concept.

Materials used

The Waal brick-style clay pavers from Vande Moortel were laid in an ongoing twill design in order to follow the organic pathway pattern as effectively as possible. The Vande Moortel pavers were chosen due to their beautiful sepia colour that matches the façade bricks in all their yellow and blue hues, the natural brick steps and the planting.

The hard quality of the paver means the stone takes up little water. This reduces the chance that algae will cause problems in the shade of the trees.

In tune with the environment

The residences on the busy Bernardlaan lie on a plinth which also contains the car park. The difference in height between the building and the garden is 1.80m.

On the garden side there is therefore a stepped profile including various 'reed gardens' to gradually bridge the height difference. The stairwell that encompasses the height difference merges into the beautiful design and is made of granite blocks.

The landings between the blocks of steps are made of the same paving bricks as the paths. On the passage from the building to the street, wide hedgerows and hedging blocks have been used as green ‘bumpers’. Within the hedging blocks, there are bike racks for the residents.

The public space thus remains clean, tidy and easy to monitor. The entrances on the street side are also paved with clay pavers from Vande Moortel.

Comparable case studies

Newhall, Harlow with Vande Moortel Clay Pavers

Newhall is planned to be self–sufficient meeting the everyday needs of its 6,000 residents with primary schools, community facilities, employment, convenience shops and services, sports and leisure spaces.