The Living City: Migration of the Garden City

The Living City combines social housing with an algae research institute and additional public functions in one complex, and is made completely circular and self-sufficient with the use of algae. The project reacts on the migrated and evolved Garden Suburbs within the site of the assignment and the expanding high-rise district Zuidplein. It aims to strengthen the character of the existing and what is left from the Garden City design, while at the same time reacting to the future needs of the city. The green urban design concept of the Garden City will be translated into a green architectural design by using algae. Algae is a relatively underdeveloped type of greenery within the field of architecture, but has an immense potential to become the pioneer in climate proof and circular building. Through experimental exploring, the algae lab of the Living City tests new sustainable initiatives and products, applicable for architectural design. Eventually, the gained research and knowledge will be applied into the ecological restoration of Rotterdam. The public algae park that runs through the building gives an insight in the algae-innovations that are made. It explains the visitors of the park how the building system works and brings them in connection with algae-architecture in the built environment.While densifying the area, the project reuses the existing context and maintains the historical character of the Garden Suburbs and the complementing architecture of the Amsterdamse School. The vacant school complex on the site will become part of the project and is brought back to life with 55 housing units that fit inside the old classrooms. To create a flow in the existing rental housing market, the project provides three types of housing: two classes of social housing and one class of medium rent housing. The housing is a one of a kind project where all the benefits of the algae-architecture are experienced. Living in a green and healthy building with a strong social structure is the main goal of the residential part of the project. The shared green spaces aim to bring the residents in touch with each other resulting in a social network inside the complex. The ambition to provide big green spaces for all residents inside city centres is one of the main features of the housing complex. The translation into an architectural design is made with a large algae-canopy structure with algae-panels on top, which is the main element of the climate design and forms the eyecatcher. The panels are closed bioreactors that produce algae biomass. The biomass is transported to the technical rooms of the research institute, where the heat is taken out. The biomass is further transported and burned to produce energy. The open algae raceway ponds are used to clean air and water. In total, the algae ponds can reduce 6 ton/year of CO2 in the air. The complete building aims to be self-sufficient and independent from other sources. This futuristic system is an innovative way in sustainable architecture that aims for a futureproof circular city.Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Complex Project