Kreek

Urbanism.

Year	2020 – 2023
Status	Realised
Architects	Machiel Hopman Niek van der Putten
Partners	Partner overview

Kreek is not just a neighbourhood, but a complete living experience.

From the moment you arrive home to every encounter in this area, everything has been thoughtfully designed to create an atmosphere in which you truly feel at home. Each home is an integral part of the surrounding landscape; the interior area is not just a green space, but an extension of your own garden.

Kreek is a newly developed area within Wilgenrijk. Starting in 2020, plots ranging from 500 m² to 1000 m² were made available for purchase, giving residents the opportunity to design their dream homes. All plots have been sold, and around 90% of them have already been realized. In collaboration with Wilgenrijk and Echo Urban Design, a unique area has been created in the idyllic Goedland. In Kreek, coming home and meeting others has been elevated to an art and the lushness of nature is embraced. The development has created a haven of tranquillity, surrounded by verdant greenery and accompanied by a meandering creek. Kreek is the result where urban planning, architecture, and nature have met in perfect harmony.

There are several special aspects to Kreek, such as living in a car-free park surrounded by greenery and water, and porches combined on the front facades. Inspiration was drawn from the American porch and community setup. Porches play a central role, providing a space to enjoy the sun in the morning and evening. These porches were not meant to be mere additions to the houses, they are essential elements of the architecture, seamlessly integrated into the design. Additionally, the plots were deliberately designed to be more spacious, providing enough space and air around the homes.

The plan breaks with the traditional ideas about the orientation of the front facade, and embraces a modern perspective. All functional amenities are placed at the back of the plots. Consequently, Kreek has a ‘facilitative street’. Beautiful amenities, such as rain gardens, fences, and identical sheds, have been installed here, enhancing the uniformity of the neighbourhood.

On behalf of Wilgenrijk, ConverseArchitects guided buyers through the initial steps of realizing their dream homes. As supervisors of the area, we offered each buyer a volume study, clearly outlining the rules for the plot and other design guidelines they needed to adhere to. These guidelines mainly concerned about the use of colors and materials, as well as the positioning of the houses on the plot.

The color palette, inspired by the Maassluise school, creates a cohesive neighbourhood with variation within an elegant spectrum. A grayscale palette was chosen, ranging from light grey to anthracite, offering residents a plethora of options. At Kreek, nature is embraced, emphasizing the use of natural materials while avoiding synthetic products.