De Nieuwe Veenmarkt

The Dutch Board of Government Advisors and Zwolle city council have selected, from over 50 entrants, De Nieuwe Veenmarkt as the winner of the biobased design competition. The plan includes 130 homes (of which 70% are social and affordable), a community centre, an energy production hub, car and bicycle storage; and is organised around a collective garden where people, animals and plants live together. The jury, chaired by Chief Government Architect Francesco Veenstra, was unanimous in its verdict, praising the "integrated and inclusive aspects of the plan, which demonstrates both idealism and realism.” There was also appreciation for the way the proposal sketched out a vision over the longer term, which they found particularly convincing. The jury underlined their high expectations for the proposal, looking forward to the next steps of the construction process.