Strengthening Local Democracy and Inclusion
Zandweerd's Gardens
Informal Living Along a Garden Lane on Nature-Inclusive Self-Build Plots
Zandweerd's Gardens is a nature-friendly residential neighbourhood on the outskirts of Deventer, where people, plants, and animals coexist in harmony. The project serves as a testing ground for the neighbourhood of the future, with a focus on sustainability, community spirit, and participation. Set within a garden landscape, Zandweerd's Gardens creates a space for sustainable, relaxed, and healthy living.
Netherlands
Local
Deventer, the Netherlands
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It involves a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Yes
2024-11-12
No
No
No
Organisation
Zandweerd’s Gardens (De Tuinen van Zandweerd) is a nature-inclusive residential district in Deventer, Netherlands, where humans, plants, and animals coexist. Developed between 2017 and 2024 on a former sports site, the project transforms underutilised land into a living lab for future urban living. It departs from rigid high-density planning toward a relaxed environment that functions as a vital ecological corridor.
Central to the project is an innovative gas-free energy concept. A low-temperature heating network harvests residual heat from the adjacent sewage treatment plant (RWZI) to power 140 new homes and the existing community. Supplemented by local solar and wind generation, this circular approach ensures long-term resource management and climate resilience.
The district fosters a diverse community through social housing, tiny houses, collective private developments (CPO), and individual self-build lots. Homes are arranged in clusters of 10 to 15 to encourage social cohesion, while the "gardens concept" promotes a conscious lifestyle. This model proved exceptionally popular, with demand exceeding supply by five times.
By prioritising green garden paths over car infrastructure, the project embodies the "exercise-friendly city"; a defining concept of Urhahn’s urban strategy. This car-free design reclaims public space for play and social interaction, supporting resident wellbeing.
Most significantly, the project integrated a "Nature Checklist" into the legal zoning plan, making biodiversity a permanent legal requirement rather than a temporary ambition. Zandweerd’s Gardens provides a concept for the neighbourhood of the future, proving that sustainable, health-centric, and inclusive living is both achievable and highly desirable.
Central to the project is an innovative gas-free energy concept. A low-temperature heating network harvests residual heat from the adjacent sewage treatment plant (RWZI) to power 140 new homes and the existing community. Supplemented by local solar and wind generation, this circular approach ensures long-term resource management and climate resilience.
The district fosters a diverse community through social housing, tiny houses, collective private developments (CPO), and individual self-build lots. Homes are arranged in clusters of 10 to 15 to encourage social cohesion, while the "gardens concept" promotes a conscious lifestyle. This model proved exceptionally popular, with demand exceeding supply by five times.
By prioritising green garden paths over car infrastructure, the project embodies the "exercise-friendly city"; a defining concept of Urhahn’s urban strategy. This car-free design reclaims public space for play and social interaction, supporting resident wellbeing.
Most significantly, the project integrated a "Nature Checklist" into the legal zoning plan, making biodiversity a permanent legal requirement rather than a temporary ambition. Zandweerd’s Gardens provides a concept for the neighbourhood of the future, proving that sustainable, health-centric, and inclusive living is both achievable and highly desirable.
In 2017, when the Municipality of Deventer faced a redevelopment challenge for an area containing an old ice rink and a former branch of the IJssel river. While a high-density urban plan was the "safe" economic choice, the municipality pivoted toward an innovative model that addressed the rise of small households, the aging population, and the urgent need for a local energy transition.
The first step was creating a primary structure for the neighbourhood’s structure, dividing the garden tiles from the slow traffic lanes. Afterwards, we didn't present a finished plan to the people that were interested living here. Instead, we surveyed potential residents on their preferred housing-form (small, medium, or large plots; self-build or collective). Only after gathering this data we did finalise the plot distribution.
A key question in this project was: how do we organise self-build and collaborative build projects in a way that offers a great deal of freedom while also ensuring the neighbourhood’s cohesion and nature-inclusivity? There was no rigid visual quality plan, but the project was guided by the core values of naturalness, restraint, and craftsmanship. In addition, residents were guided by a supervisor in creating a construction plan. Cohesion was ensured across several key themes through the guidelines. For instance, sustainability, nature-inclusivity, building volume, and material use were laid out in the rules. This ensures spatial and architectural cohesion, while simultaneously leaving plenty of room for individual interpretation and allowing residents to realise their own dreams. What makes Zandweerd’s Gardens special is the combination of individual design freedom and spatial coherence.
The first step was creating a primary structure for the neighbourhood’s structure, dividing the garden tiles from the slow traffic lanes. Afterwards, we didn't present a finished plan to the people that were interested living here. Instead, we surveyed potential residents on their preferred housing-form (small, medium, or large plots; self-build or collective). Only after gathering this data we did finalise the plot distribution.
A key question in this project was: how do we organise self-build and collaborative build projects in a way that offers a great deal of freedom while also ensuring the neighbourhood’s cohesion and nature-inclusivity? There was no rigid visual quality plan, but the project was guided by the core values of naturalness, restraint, and craftsmanship. In addition, residents were guided by a supervisor in creating a construction plan. Cohesion was ensured across several key themes through the guidelines. For instance, sustainability, nature-inclusivity, building volume, and material use were laid out in the rules. This ensures spatial and architectural cohesion, while simultaneously leaving plenty of room for individual interpretation and allowing residents to realise their own dreams. What makes Zandweerd’s Gardens special is the combination of individual design freedom and spatial coherence.
community co-design
gas-free neighbourhood
car-free neighbourhood
nature-inclusive
social inclusion
Zandweerd’s Gardens provides a resilient solution for climate-neutral living. The district is entirely gas-free, powered by a heating network that harvests waste heat from the adjacent wastewater treatment plant, a system extended to benefit the existing neighbouring community. Central to the plan is a natural pond that serves as a vital habitat, while nature-inclusive construction is a mandatory legal requirement. Through a “Nature Checklist” embedded in the building permits, residents earn points for features like green roofs and biodiversity boxes. To ensure permeability, paving is limited to 50% of any lot, with mandatory on-site drainage integrated into the local landscape.
Following Urhahn’s “Active City” philosophy, the neighbourhood prioritises physical and mental health. In place of traditional streets and driveways, green garden paths provide dedicated space for play, exercise, and social interaction. This is enabled by a low parking standard of one car per household, with parking situated at the district's edge, a bold choice for the municipality that has been enthusiastically embraced by residents.
Social cohesion is a fundamental pillar of the project’s success. The spatial strategy uses a "tile" methodology, where each cluster is independent yet encourages collaboration within its boundaries. This fosters a community of people choosing to live consciously, integrating diverse housing types including innovative social-rent tiny houses.
Economically, the project proves that financial viability does not require high-density development. By prioritising ecological and landscape quality, the project generated immense market demand, exceeding supply fivefold. This model demonstrates that a balanced mix of high-value plots and accessible social housing creates a resilient, competitive, and highly sought-after residential area.
Following Urhahn’s “Active City” philosophy, the neighbourhood prioritises physical and mental health. In place of traditional streets and driveways, green garden paths provide dedicated space for play, exercise, and social interaction. This is enabled by a low parking standard of one car per household, with parking situated at the district's edge, a bold choice for the municipality that has been enthusiastically embraced by residents.
Social cohesion is a fundamental pillar of the project’s success. The spatial strategy uses a "tile" methodology, where each cluster is independent yet encourages collaboration within its boundaries. This fosters a community of people choosing to live consciously, integrating diverse housing types including innovative social-rent tiny houses.
Economically, the project proves that financial viability does not require high-density development. By prioritising ecological and landscape quality, the project generated immense market demand, exceeding supply fivefold. This model demonstrates that a balanced mix of high-value plots and accessible social housing creates a resilient, competitive, and highly sought-after residential area.
In daily life, homes border green garden paths rather than asphalt, creating a quiet, car-free environment. These "slow traffic" zones act as social connectors, making public spaces safe for play and spontaneous interaction. For the wider urban context, the district functions as a public park; its natural pond and walking routes are intensively used by residents from across Deventer.
Over the long term, this integration into natural structures fosters a strong bond with the place, supporting mental and physical health. Collective infrastructure, such as communal gardens and a "neighbourhood room" near the tiny houses, provides a lasting framework for interaction. Shared management of the greenery strengthens social cohesion and fosters collective pride. By replacing hard embankments with dynamic urban nature, the district acts as a "green lung" whose ecological and aesthetic value increases as the vegetation matures.
Community spirit is rooted in an active design process. Residents influenced their lot sizes and spatial layouts, creating a sense of authorship rather than "assignment." Small-scale clusters of 10–15 homes ensure neighbours know one another, fostering a familiar, safe atmosphere. Responsibility is built into the design; "soft" transitions like low hedges blur the line between private and public space, encouraging co-ownership and natural social oversight.
Aesthetically, the project breaks with rigid master planning. It proves that unity does not require architectural uniformity; instead, cohesion is derived from the landscape, a consistent framework of native hedges and garden paths. This "freedom within bounds" allows social housing, tiny houses, and self-build homes to coexist harmoniously under shared values of natural craftsmanship. Finally, the project embodies functional beauty: features like bioswales and nature-friendly banks are both ecologically essential and visually attractive, reflecting a healthy, functioning ecosystem.
Over the long term, this integration into natural structures fosters a strong bond with the place, supporting mental and physical health. Collective infrastructure, such as communal gardens and a "neighbourhood room" near the tiny houses, provides a lasting framework for interaction. Shared management of the greenery strengthens social cohesion and fosters collective pride. By replacing hard embankments with dynamic urban nature, the district acts as a "green lung" whose ecological and aesthetic value increases as the vegetation matures.
Community spirit is rooted in an active design process. Residents influenced their lot sizes and spatial layouts, creating a sense of authorship rather than "assignment." Small-scale clusters of 10–15 homes ensure neighbours know one another, fostering a familiar, safe atmosphere. Responsibility is built into the design; "soft" transitions like low hedges blur the line between private and public space, encouraging co-ownership and natural social oversight.
Aesthetically, the project breaks with rigid master planning. It proves that unity does not require architectural uniformity; instead, cohesion is derived from the landscape, a consistent framework of native hedges and garden paths. This "freedom within bounds" allows social housing, tiny houses, and self-build homes to coexist harmoniously under shared values of natural craftsmanship. Finally, the project embodies functional beauty: features like bioswales and nature-friendly banks are both ecologically essential and visually attractive, reflecting a healthy, functioning ecosystem.
Zandweerd’s Gardens addresses the challenges of urban inclusion by integrating social housing and private development into a single, high-quality landscape. This approach ensures that nature-inclusive, health-centric living is a standard accessible to all, rather than a privilege for the wealthy.
The project achieves concrete affordability through a diverse housing programme, including social-rent tiny houses, Collective Private Ownership (CPO), and a wide range of plot sizes. By offering these varied entry points, the neighbourhood remains accessible to a broad demographic—from young starters and lower-income households to the elderly. The tiny houses developed by housing corporation Rentree exemplify how sustainable, high-quality design can be delivered within a social housing budget.
Governance was rooted in a participatory, bottom-up model. To ensure fair distribution of high-demand plots, a notary-led lottery system was implemented. This prevented "first-come, first-served" inequality, ensuring the community was formed by residents committed to the project’s core values rather than those with the highest bidding power.
The "Design for all" principle is physically manifested in car-free "garden paths." these create a safe, barrier-free environment for children, the elderly, and those with mobility challenges. Small-scale clusters of 10 to 15 homes promote "neighbourly care," where the layout encourages residents to support one another, reducing social isolation and allowing for "ageing in place."
Zandweerd’s Gardens proves that social diversity and high ecological ambitions are mutually reinforcing. By leading with shared values, natural, modest, and craftsmanship, different housing typologies coexist harmoniously. The project serves as a successful blueprint for inclusive urban development, acting as both a living lab for the energy transition and a welcoming, affordable home for a diverse population.
The project achieves concrete affordability through a diverse housing programme, including social-rent tiny houses, Collective Private Ownership (CPO), and a wide range of plot sizes. By offering these varied entry points, the neighbourhood remains accessible to a broad demographic—from young starters and lower-income households to the elderly. The tiny houses developed by housing corporation Rentree exemplify how sustainable, high-quality design can be delivered within a social housing budget.
Governance was rooted in a participatory, bottom-up model. To ensure fair distribution of high-demand plots, a notary-led lottery system was implemented. This prevented "first-come, first-served" inequality, ensuring the community was formed by residents committed to the project’s core values rather than those with the highest bidding power.
The "Design for all" principle is physically manifested in car-free "garden paths." these create a safe, barrier-free environment for children, the elderly, and those with mobility challenges. Small-scale clusters of 10 to 15 homes promote "neighbourly care," where the layout encourages residents to support one another, reducing social isolation and allowing for "ageing in place."
Zandweerd’s Gardens proves that social diversity and high ecological ambitions are mutually reinforcing. By leading with shared values, natural, modest, and craftsmanship, different housing typologies coexist harmoniously. The project serves as a successful blueprint for inclusive urban development, acting as both a living lab for the energy transition and a welcoming, affordable home for a diverse population.
The participatory approach of Zandweerd’s Gardens treated the future residents from the beginning as active co-creators. By involving citizens from the earliest strategic phases, the project ensured that the final urban fabric was a direct reflection of the community's needs and values.
By doing this, discussions were held with residents to identify their preferences. Among other things, this revealed a desire for a variety of lot sizes and housing types. A survey was conducted to ask whether people wanted a small, medium, or large lot, and whether they preferred to build on their own or in collaboration with neighbours. Based on these preferences, a subdivision plan was created according to the collected plot distribution, and future residents were selected by lottery through the notary. This method gave residents a say in the neighbourhood’s structure and ensured that a variety of housing types and residents could settle in the area.
During the design phase, residents of collective plots (CPO) and self-builders were guided by a supervisor but retained a high degree of individual design freedom, allowing them to shape their own immediate living environment. This ensures spatial and architectural coherence, while at the same time leaving plenty of room for personal interpretation and enabling residents to realise their own dreams.
By giving residents a significant say in shaping the neighbourhood, a sense of ownership is fostered, which leads to a stronger sense of community and a greater sense of responsibility for maintaining the neighbourhood.
By doing this, discussions were held with residents to identify their preferences. Among other things, this revealed a desire for a variety of lot sizes and housing types. A survey was conducted to ask whether people wanted a small, medium, or large lot, and whether they preferred to build on their own or in collaboration with neighbours. Based on these preferences, a subdivision plan was created according to the collected plot distribution, and future residents were selected by lottery through the notary. This method gave residents a say in the neighbourhood’s structure and ensured that a variety of housing types and residents could settle in the area.
During the design phase, residents of collective plots (CPO) and self-builders were guided by a supervisor but retained a high degree of individual design freedom, allowing them to shape their own immediate living environment. This ensures spatial and architectural coherence, while at the same time leaving plenty of room for personal interpretation and enabling residents to realise their own dreams.
By giving residents a significant say in shaping the neighbourhood, a sense of ownership is fostered, which leads to a stronger sense of community and a greater sense of responsibility for maintaining the neighbourhood.
The Municipality of Deventer acted as the primary facilitator and landowner, transitioning from a conventional developer to a "regulator of quality" by establishing the mandatory “Nature Checklist”. At this local level, future residents were treated as essential co-designers, directly influencing the spatial layout of housing clusters and the social programming of tiny house zones.
This local vision was made technically and legally possible through deep integration with regional and national partners. The Waterboard Drents Overijsselse Delta (WDODelta) played a critical role, providing the technical pathway to utilise residual heat from the nearby wastewater treatment plant (RWZI).
Simultaneously, the project was designated a "Proeftuin Aardgasvrije Wijken" (Living Lab for Gas-Free Neighbourhoods) by the Dutch Ministry. This national status served as a vital catalyst, providing both the necessary funding and the "regulatory room for manoeuvre" required to deviate from standard building codes and energy regulations. This allowed the Dutch national government and the Province of Overijssel to co-fund the energy grid, creating an experimental space for pioneering sustainable infrastructure.
The involvement of these stakeholders was characterised by a transdisciplinary and integrated approach, where the energy concept became a joint effort between the regional resource provider, the national legal framework, and the local end-users. This multilevel engagement accelerated innovation and reduced systemic risks. Furthermore, the collaboration with the housing corporation ensured that high ecological ambitions did not lead to gentrification, keeping the district accessible to all. Ultimately, this governance model demonstrates that complex urban challenges can be solved when different levels of government and civil society work in harmony.
This local vision was made technically and legally possible through deep integration with regional and national partners. The Waterboard Drents Overijsselse Delta (WDODelta) played a critical role, providing the technical pathway to utilise residual heat from the nearby wastewater treatment plant (RWZI).
Simultaneously, the project was designated a "Proeftuin Aardgasvrije Wijken" (Living Lab for Gas-Free Neighbourhoods) by the Dutch Ministry. This national status served as a vital catalyst, providing both the necessary funding and the "regulatory room for manoeuvre" required to deviate from standard building codes and energy regulations. This allowed the Dutch national government and the Province of Overijssel to co-fund the energy grid, creating an experimental space for pioneering sustainable infrastructure.
The involvement of these stakeholders was characterised by a transdisciplinary and integrated approach, where the energy concept became a joint effort between the regional resource provider, the national legal framework, and the local end-users. This multilevel engagement accelerated innovation and reduced systemic risks. Furthermore, the collaboration with the housing corporation ensured that high ecological ambitions did not lead to gentrification, keeping the district accessible to all. Ultimately, this governance model demonstrates that complex urban challenges can be solved when different levels of government and civil society work in harmony.
The development of Zandweerd’s Gardens is a fusion of various fields of expertise. Strategically, the project utilized innovative urban planning strategies based on the philosophy of the “spontaneous city.” This approach allowed social dynamics to guide the urban design, ensuring that the physical layout was a direct response to human behaviour and the needs of the community, rather than a top-down blueprint.
This social foundation was seamlessly integrated with landscape architecture and ecology. By treating the landscape as primary infrastructure, the dynamic development of nature was incorporated into the public domain. This was not merely for aesthetic value; in this way, the area could be transformed into an ecological corridor. The resulting civil and thermal engineering, the design of a complex heat exchange system based on wastewater, transformed a regional utility company into a local energy source.
Of course, the discipline of design is a key element of this project, manifesting itself not only in urban planning but also in the design of the building lots, over which the residents themselves had control.
This social foundation was seamlessly integrated with landscape architecture and ecology. By treating the landscape as primary infrastructure, the dynamic development of nature was incorporated into the public domain. This was not merely for aesthetic value; in this way, the area could be transformed into an ecological corridor. The resulting civil and thermal engineering, the design of a complex heat exchange system based on wastewater, transformed a regional utility company into a local energy source.
Of course, the discipline of design is a key element of this project, manifesting itself not only in urban planning but also in the design of the building lots, over which the residents themselves had control.
The business model of Zandweerd’s Gardens is a hybrid of public land development, sustainability subsidies, and a "lean" management structure. It shifts away from high-margin, high-density development toward a model focused on long-term societal value and environmental resilience.
A primary driver was the strategic land-sale by the Municipality of Deventer. Instead of selling the entire site to one commercial developer, the municipality sold plots directly to individual self-builders, Collective Private Ownership (CPO) groups, and the housing corporation Rentree. This strategy ensured steady cash flow while maintaining control over quality. By offering various plot sizes, the project tapped into multiple market segments, reducing the financial risk of market stagnation.
Financial viability was bolstered by regional and national innovation grants. As a designated "Living Lab for Gas-Free Neighbourhoods", the broader Zandweerd district received significant subsidies from the Dutch government and the Province of Overijssel. This funding supported the pioneering thermal energy system, which harvests residual heat from the nearby wastewater treatment plant (RWZI). This localized energy loop shares network costs among 140 households, creating a stable revenue stream while protecting residents from gas price volatility.
Finally, the project reduces municipal operational expenditures (OPEX). By designing with "garden paths" rather than asphalt roads, maintenance is partially decentralised. Residents, organised in small clusters, take active care of their immediate surroundings. This communal stewardship ensures the high-quality landscape remains financially healthy without placing a permanent drain on public funds.
A primary driver was the strategic land-sale by the Municipality of Deventer. Instead of selling the entire site to one commercial developer, the municipality sold plots directly to individual self-builders, Collective Private Ownership (CPO) groups, and the housing corporation Rentree. This strategy ensured steady cash flow while maintaining control over quality. By offering various plot sizes, the project tapped into multiple market segments, reducing the financial risk of market stagnation.
Financial viability was bolstered by regional and national innovation grants. As a designated "Living Lab for Gas-Free Neighbourhoods", the broader Zandweerd district received significant subsidies from the Dutch government and the Province of Overijssel. This funding supported the pioneering thermal energy system, which harvests residual heat from the nearby wastewater treatment plant (RWZI). This localized energy loop shares network costs among 140 households, creating a stable revenue stream while protecting residents from gas price volatility.
Finally, the project reduces municipal operational expenditures (OPEX). By designing with "garden paths" rather than asphalt roads, maintenance is partially decentralised. Residents, organised in small clusters, take active care of their immediate surroundings. This communal stewardship ensures the high-quality landscape remains financially healthy without placing a permanent drain on public funds.
While rooted in Deventer, the project’s methodologies, technical integrations, and legal frameworks are designed for export to diverse suburban contexts. A primary replicable element is the nature-inclusive zoning framework. By translating "soft" ecological goals into "hard" building requirements through a standardized "Nature Checklist" legally tethered to plot sales and permits, other municipalities can ensure biodiversity becomes a structural part of development rather than a voluntary "extra."
Technologically, the project serves as a scalable case study for Circular Energy Infrastructure. Extracting heat from regional wastewater treatment plants (RWZI) is highly transferable to any city with similar utilities. We have demonstrated how to navigate complex cooperation between regional water boards, municipal strategies, and households. This "low-temperature" grid model directly addresses the European challenge of phasing out natural gas.
The spatial strategy, dividing the neighbourhood into "tiles" with a fixed landscape frame but flexible internal content, is a methodology applicable at various scales. This "Freedom within Bounds" approach allows cities to guarantee a high-quality public realm while letting the market or citizens determine the exact housing mix (social rent, tiny houses, or villas) based on real-time demand, avoiding the pitfalls of rigid masterplans.
Furthermore, the project provides a transferable model for mobility. It proves residents will accept a lower parking norm (1.0) and clustered parking in exchange for a high-quality, safe living environment. Shifting from street-side parking to "social garden paths" is a design and behavioural shift replicable in almost any culture to improve community health. Finally, the notary-led lottery system offers a simple yet powerful tool for inclusive governance, preventing land speculation and ensuring diverse access to high-quality living.
Technologically, the project serves as a scalable case study for Circular Energy Infrastructure. Extracting heat from regional wastewater treatment plants (RWZI) is highly transferable to any city with similar utilities. We have demonstrated how to navigate complex cooperation between regional water boards, municipal strategies, and households. This "low-temperature" grid model directly addresses the European challenge of phasing out natural gas.
The spatial strategy, dividing the neighbourhood into "tiles" with a fixed landscape frame but flexible internal content, is a methodology applicable at various scales. This "Freedom within Bounds" approach allows cities to guarantee a high-quality public realm while letting the market or citizens determine the exact housing mix (social rent, tiny houses, or villas) based on real-time demand, avoiding the pitfalls of rigid masterplans.
Furthermore, the project provides a transferable model for mobility. It proves residents will accept a lower parking norm (1.0) and clustered parking in exchange for a high-quality, safe living environment. Shifting from street-side parking to "social garden paths" is a design and behavioural shift replicable in almost any culture to improve community health. Finally, the notary-led lottery system offers a simple yet powerful tool for inclusive governance, preventing land speculation and ensuring diverse access to high-quality living.
