Tuindorp Vooruit redeveloped: retrospective architecture

On the Parkweg a row of terraces has been knocked down to make way for the Parkhof-development. It consists of a long row of terraced housing culminating in an elevated section that is set back. In this section two passages to the houses behind are positioned in the corners. The development dates from 2001.

The dwelling above the passage is called a gate house (left). The architects have given special care to the corners of the long facade. With the setback the whole is still very urban in character, but the visual impact is reduced. Apart from the higher dwellings in the setback the terraced houses are low with dormers to make the loft space habitable.

A whole block of the old garden village has been filled with this massive apartment complex. By varying the roofline, the roof shapes and the facades the architects have tried to mitigate the visual impact of this very urban block.

The redeveloped Vooruit is dominated by retrospective architecture in short rows of terraced housing. Special attention has been paid to the roofs, the eaves, the use of dormers and bays.

In sharp contrast to the original buildings on the site, the new housing is more urban in character making for seemingly continues facades. The streetscape is kept rather green with the treatment of the space between the buildings as front gardens and other greenery.

The buildings on the northern edge of the redeveloped garden village follow a curved building line. They are modern in architecture and lie opposite a small industrial estate along the railway. The central ensemble of the redeveloped Vooruit has a foot path running through it, connecting several public gardens via a series of passages.

Around the public garden to the southwest the old semidetached houses have been replaces with new semis in a similar style, but almost twice as large. The once large gardens have been greatly reduced. The same goes for the public garden central to this ensemble.

To the northwest of the redeveloped garden village Vooruit a postwar housing estate called de Zanding (literally; the sand pit) is also being redeveloped. The architects have also opted for 1920s retro architecture. This time referencing expressionist Amsterdam School type buildings in yellow brick. The use of vertical tiles is characteristic for this development.

The short terraces of the 1950s housing estate have been replaced by long rows of terraced housing. The facades are broken by architectural elements (i.e. vertical roofing tiles, two tone walls and varying gable hight).