'the District of Tomorrow'
The award winning students design for the first project, a passivhouse (and 0-energy), with a solar roof 'bending' to the sun. Nearly completed, opening 23 September 2011.
the District of Tomorrow - le Quartier de Demain - das Viertel von Morgen
The exposition/office building, had to meet 0-energy requirements and 50 pct of materials of renewable origin. Besides, the building will house the service centre for the district: where cars are rented out, a central laundryshop is foreseen and the office of the district's local energy company. And as well, since land is scarce, to use the roof as optimal as possible to change from a consumptive building toward a productive building. With greenhouses on the roof, a combination of food production energy production and water collection ca be made. In fact the consumed land by the building is given back as a productive roof. (0-land use) . This winner was selected by a international ( euregional) jury, and is now detailled for construction next year. ( in the end it will be 0-energy, the total mass is only 590 kg/m2 and 51 % is coming from "renewable" materials) Pictures show some details and facts about the building.
"eco/nnect", by Leroy Merks & Roel Derkx
We have just selected the 4th building: 82% made of renewable materials, energyplus, an highly innovative!
The jury at work. See project left below.
The District of Tomorrow has attracted international attention:
- A russian district of Tomorrow is under development, in the city of Wyksa. Students from Nizhny Novgorod university diesigned the winning first house.
- Universities and authorities in Beijing and Singapore have asked support to develop teir own District.
- The Design atelier at Zuyd universty has become international and changed to the english language: Russian and german studemts have joined, and more expected to come.
- A EU project has been awarded to develop education modules for master students and professionals, based on the design process of the District of tomorrow buildings. 15 universities throughout Europe are involved.
New project: Existing District for Tomorrow.
In September a similar process is launched for an existing district, to prepare a transition towards environmental neutral situation, and after defining the concept Masterplan, has been developed for the district, students will re-design parts of the area next year. More to follow.
New: Existing district of Tomorrow
Construction site at Avantis, Science and Business park, in Heerlen, near German border.
On the right: The plan for the District, 4 buildings and terrain. Right below the building now under construction.
we have installed a a grid connected PV powered loading station for the elctric car. Its the first in the Netherlands!
Research institute RiBuilT
As a result of co-operation between faculties and professors, and with external partners, we have launched a research institute, focussing at the transition for 0-impact buildings and Built Environments: RiBuilT, research instutute for Built Environments of Tomorrow. The Institute wil support -with research- the Distcict, and other projects aiming at high ambition
levels.
The District of Tomorrow has been nominated for the EU Sustainable energy Award 2010. During the energy Week in Brussels it became second place.
The District of Tomorrow acts as a demonstartion site for the transition we have to make towards Sustainable Built Environments. The ambitions are high: a 0-impact Built environment and buildings. Which was also the theme ofthe International conference organised in 2010. See for more background on ambitions, the conference and 0-impact apprach, the website www.ribuilt.eu.
the illustration shows a rough indication of ambitions for the buildings.
We are testing "New communications". Above are videos , real time uploaded from the Construction site.
Above: construction by students is under way.
Project 3 will be a exergy optimised building, to house elderly people. The winning design is now further detailed for final design and construction next year. Design:
Project 4 is a (near) 0-materials building, 82 % made of renewable materials (but final design will be higher even) , and producing more energy as needed to operate . Resources wi be grown in the garden behind the building. It will be known as the MAXergy building, The winning buidlin is designed by Ruby Willems and Ilse Schoenmakers.
Four buildings, each year one and each more ambitious then the previous one : energy producing, and up to 100% made of renewable and recycled materials, partly grown in the garden. The (small) district itself, should be 0-energy as well, and produce and clean its own water. Together developing a 0-impact district, and a learning and research environment for the students, market stakeholders and the region together.
Its a project initiated by Zuyd University and coordinated by RiBuilT, the Research Institute Built environment of Tomorrow. Its part of a Transition programme for the region, to cope with climate change, fossil fuels depletion and resource scarcity. It becomes very special due to the fact that Students design the projects ( the winning design form the University graduation project) And is costructed by pupils of construction schools.
The professional market is involved by helping constructing the projects, and research for innovative products and management . The whole area is seen as an open innovation platform, where market stakeholders, education and local government can kick of a transition towards a more sustainable region.
ALL PICTURES: Click to enlarge
The District going Inernational: Researchers and students from Finland, Russia, China, Spain , and Nepal are doing internships and research at the District.
international participation
Opening 1st Building ( KNIK) on September 23 2011:
See www.dewijkvanmorgen.nl for details !
Sustainable Cafe: every month there is a network meeting with presentations: Next oppertunity is September 20 1530 to 1730 i the District of tomorrow. Theme is Building integrated PV.
The District of tomorrow, a project by RiBuiT/Zuyd University, celebrated the opening of the first house: " Bend towards the sun" . The Building will apply for the Passivhaus certificate, and is a 0-energy house as well. The partial integration of the solar roof has been successful . Construction of building 2 has started, a expo/office building, with agriculture roof and greenhouses.
During the opening festivities a initiative was launched to create a transition-board, that will coordinate initiatives like the district of tomorrow, towards a common agreed direction in the region.
