Many lessons learned through European grant UIA
In October 2017, the unique project SUPERLOCAL - Super Circular Estate In Bleijerheide, received a European grant from UIA (Urban Innovative Actions) of 5 million euros. On April 30, the official grant deadline expired and thus time to take stock (the project and also the processing of the grant continue until 2022).
Goals and reuse
The goals for the area were very high: reuse everything released in the area in this area itself. By getting the grant, several experiments could be done for the sake of the future. Raw materials are increasingly difficult to come by. In the project, new ways were devised and tested to reuse materials such as concrete, bricks and wood for the construction of housing and the construction of the public area.
Maintaining a sense of community
When people think of reuse, they quickly think of materials. There was another high ambition, which was to "reuse" the way people in the area lived together, the atmosphere, the sense of community. Alderman Tim Weijers (Spatial Planning/Housing/Public Space) explains, "We asked former residents of the flats to return to the area. In addition, a Sounding Board Group has been set up with local residents, former residents, the residents of the 15 ground-floor apartments and possible future residents who will actively contribute to the plans for the area. There will also be several facilities where residents can meet and engage in activities."
Lessons learned
The demolition of the last two flats was not done as normal. The materials were described and stored. Several apartments in their entirety were also spectacularly and pioneeringly "sawed loose" and then lifted out. One apartment was the basis for the so-called Expo building. The lessons learned from this were used to build three test houses (Phoenix-3). The other apartment was used for this purpose. The new approach brought a lot of information. By sharing this in our country, but also abroad, everyone can use the lessons learned.
Cooperating partners
No fewer than twelve partners are working intensively together on the project: HEEMwonen, municipality of Kerkrade, IBA Parkstad, Stadsregio Parkstad Limburg, Dusseldorp Infra, Sloop en Milieutechniek B.V., Bouwbedrijven Jongen (Royal VolkerWessels company), Waterleiding Maatschappij Limburg (WML), Waterschapsbedrijf Limburg (WBL), municipality of Brunssum, municipality of Landgraaf, Zuyd Hogeschool and trade association VERAS
Where does the project stand now?
The 15 ground-level homes are now occupied. The water plant of the water cycle has been installed. The next few months will see hard work on the public space. The flat with the 114 homes is taking more and more shape. In 2022, the work of the project will be finished.
Super Circular Estate also received another European grant from Life Water Adapt for the water cycle. The project also won the Dutch Construction Award and The Innovation in Politics Award.
Interested in learning more about SUPERLOCAL? Please visit www.superlocal.eu and/or the project's Facebook-,
Twitter-, and LinkedIn page.
In the SUPERLOCAL project, as many materials as possible from former high-rise apartment buildings will be used to build new housing and construct public space. There will be 129 new affordable rental homes, a common space for residents and neighbors, and a water cycle that collects and purifies rainwater. SUPERLOCAL is a circular building project centered on sustainability and resident participation. Project partners are: HEEMwonen, Municipality of Kerkrade, IBA Parkstad, Dusseldorp Sloop Infra en Milieutechniek, Jongen Bouwpartners, Stadsregio Parkstad Limburg, WML, WBL, Zuyd Hogeschool, Veras, Municipality of Landgraaf and Municipality of Brunssum.
