Amsterdam: Ecological Urban Renewal at the Wilhelmina Hospital Grounds

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Country:

a) Western Europe

b) Netherlands

Language:
Type:	Project, 1
Area:	District/Quarter, 100,000 - 1 mill.
Actors:	Local government, Economic sector, NGO
Funding:	Local government, Economic Sector, Publ.-priv. partnership
Topics:	Architecture and construction
	Building materials
	Housing (and new settlements)
	Land use and -planning
	Urban renewal / Urban rehabilitation
Objectives:	Increase use of ecological building materials
	Reduce car mobility
Instruments:	Public participation

Abstract:

In the 1980s the City of Amsterdam initiated a number of urban renewal projects. Within this context the Wilhelmina Hospital Grounds project became an unique eco- village in a district with typical 19th century districts of closed building and high density. As a test case for the incorporation of ecological and environmentally-friendly building principles, the project can be regarded as an example of good practice in urban development for the following reasons:

• ecologically oriented re-use of existing building stocks;
• resident-driven orientation towards individual solutions for different users;
• carrying out feasibility studies with the help of local work groups;
• setting up of socially acceptable financial arrangements;
• traffic concept includes non-car priorities;
• social concept includes the participation of potential residents in the planning process.

Concept and aims

In the Amsterdam district of Oud-West the area of the Wilhelmina Hospital Grounds (WH Grounds) contrasts with the surrounding 19th century districts with their closed structure and high density. The grounds cover an area of approximately 12 hectares which had been developed in the past according to the requirements of medical services at the time. A system of pavilions and many functionally flexible buildings with sufficient daylight and fresh air circulation formed a closed medical world with its own services and amenities (e.g. boiler house, housing for personnel, light rail transport system). In 1920 the Wilhelmina Hospital had a capacity of 1,700 beds and was the largest medical complex in the Netherlands. After the Second World War medical services and infrastructure requirements gradually changed and finally the complex closed in 1983. In view of the trends in urban renewal activities the demolition of WH Grounds was imminent. At the same time, the site drew attention of local inhabitants and interested parties of future users who defined their own vision of a community area. Thus the local campaign led an initiative to form a neighbourhood for the WH Grounds which later became the WH Grounds Foundation. The stimulus of local support and innovative thinking in urban development generated a broad discussion of potential re-use as the group undertook a neighbourhood information campaign and opinion polls. The group also became a partner in the network that adopted ecologically-oriented planning for WH Grounds.

The plans for the urban renewal project were carried out by municipal authorities of Amsterdam, the housing society „Het Oosten“, and a group from WH Grounds Foundation. However, the process of drawing up a concept, planning and decision-making was characterised by an on-going debate over the development. In 1984 the municipal authorities of Amsterdam became the new owners of the site. Their intention to demolish provoked the protest of the newly established neighbourhood working group which favoured re-used and, in consequence, took over two pavilions in the centre of the WH Grounds. Finally, it was agreed that the local inhabitants got the chance to submit feasibility studies to the municipality within a period of five years. For that period no rent was charged and all reconstruction costs, which would have been paid by the municipality, were directed to the WH Grounds Foundation. This foundation was formed to facilitate self-management by highly motivated local residents. In addition, it acted as a contact partner to commission of expert advice and as a platform to incorporate of ideas and recommendations.

The aim of the working group was to preserve the green and open character of the site and to implement a mixture of social housing schemes, unusual housing formations and cultural amenities as well as small scale industries. A basic pre-condition was to conservate of the existing buildings in accordance with the preservation of historical and architectural values. In addition, a variety of ecological principles and themes were to be worked into various plans. The plans for implementation included the use of ecologically sound materials, reduction of energy and water, creation of a largely car free area, improvement of outdoor climate by greening open spaces, orientation towards an ecological design, and involvement of the residents in a social concept. The participation of users has been regarded as a driving element of the process in regard to many aspects of planning and implementation. This procedure refers to the commitment and self-management of individual measures (e.g. laying out and maintaining communal spaces and greenery), the acceptance of common measures (e.g. regulation of through traffic or car park facilities), or the financial arrangements (e.g. contribution of residents finance by personal guarantee). After the completion of all the planning and other preparations, the initial implementation phase took place between 1992 and 1994.

Implementation

Between 1992 and 1994 the WH Grounds has undergone a complete renewal process. As the functional use of the buildings changed from medical services to residential and commercial uses and obviously each part of the complex required an individual solution. This included demolition as well as renovation. The following concepts and measures have been put into practice:

1. The 'green zone', small housing units, and community facilities

At the fringe of the western area new playgrounds, community spaces and waste collection points have been created which form a buffer against the busy residential areas and streets that boarder the grounds. For this reason the old hospital building has been demolished, and four other buildings have been renovated and turned into 112 small residential units for 1 and 2 person households. A large area is covered by greenery and private gardens have been established next to the communal green fringe. It was arranged that these communal green areas would be maintained by the local residents themselves.

2. New urban villas

The next housing area was built at the site of the former psychiatric section. This is also a new housing project but mainly in order to obliterate the 'infamous' history of the place. Seven so-called 'urban villa' have been built on the site, linked by an landscaped sunlight-oriented park. In total 134 apartments with 3-4 rooms have been built as part of social housing projects in Amsterdam.

A further 60 apartments with 3-4 rooms has been constructed on the canal bank of the WH Grounds adjacent to community facilities which are located in former laboratory. In addition, six heltered housing blocks in the style of these 'urban villas' have been reserved for patients from the former psychiatric wing section.

3. Re-use of the central pavilions

The central building complex of Pavilions 1 & 2 is formed only by original residential buildings. The buildings consist of 34 rebuilt privately owned houses, most of which are inhabited by the initial activists who prepared the ground for the initiation of the whole WH Grounds complex. This central building area houses a total of 86 residential units and 25 small scale industries, as well as social- cultural amenities such as a theatre with cafe which also serves as a community centre.

4. Location of business and small industries

The policy of combining demolition and renovation is completed with the re-use of the old surgery clinic which now accommodates the administration of Amsterdam Business Centre which provides locations for new industries and other activities. The mix of non-residential areas includes a health centre, a children day nursery, a department of the Dutch Film and Television Academy, the Amsterdam office of the only Cyclist's Union in the Netherlands, a futon manufacturer, a workshop where wooden toys are made, and a painting business. A new policy station is situated in the building for elder people. Furthermore a number of architects have chosen WH Grounds as bureaux. Two further pavilions in the central area are owned by District Council of Oud-West and rented to artists and their organisations on a temporary basis. However, it is intended to made this a permanent arrangement in order to improve the social mix.

5. Plans in Progress

On-going activities and projects are directed towards extending housing areas and upgrading ecological measures. In 1994 an architectural competition for 100 new housing units was held. The prize-winning plan sees the whole site as a designated ecological area, containing two new multi- storey housing blocks with apartments oriented to the sunlight wherever possible. The buildings are designed to have a 'roof landscape' which provides terraces, vegetable places, other vegetated areas and solar collectors. It is intended to include also a pond to collect and store rain water, three planting and play facilities are main components. During 1995 the first 26 houses were completed.

The northern boarder of the area is formed by the wide Jacob van Lennep canal. This canal bank requires special attention as it is intended to construct moored float lands. However, so far no agreement has been reached with the authorities responsible for Amsterdam’s canal network.

Actors and Structures

As mentioned the renewal project is characterised by the resident-driven impetus of self-management to a major extent. Especially created 'living and working foundation' WH Grounds has rented two pavilions from the 'Het Oosten' housing association and is committed to maintain the ideals of working and living conditions. The tenants are members of the foundation and are themselves responsible for the selection of new tenants. In the commercial sector only those entrepreneurs are accepted who apply production principles of sustainable development and environmentally-friendly production. If a business or a small scale industry has outgrown the site, it must leave the complex in order to provide opportunities for new initiatives.

Finance

In the initial phase, a bank specialised in financing ecological initiatives supported urban renewal activities by providing credit if the future users and residents produced a personal guarantee of 5,000 Dutch guilders. Later a so-called CASCO-PLUS agreement, a special financial arrangement for the renewal project, was established in order to keep the rents low. The core area of WH Grounds, the pavilion 1 & 2, was an experiment with these arrangements. The agreement was a success and the financial planning proved feasible. It was put into practice by the housing federation. The financial system defines a minimum standard of renovation in accordance with the principles of sustainable building and indispensable requirements of safety and hygiene. The residents were given the opportunity to detail the minimum plan themselves and, in addition, they had the chance to opt for a 'plus' package, in which choices are compensated by a rent increase. There was a unanimous choice of measures directed towards environmental improvement (e.g. using new floor heating systems and solar collectors with storage boilers for hot water). Further financial arrangements had been made for common standards like covering flat roofs with grass rods and plants, installing individual meters for collective services like water, electricity or gas, the installation of water saving devices like adapted toilets, shower heads and taps. All measures had been covered within the „normal“ CASCO-PLUS budget.

The total CASCO-PLUS budget amounted to almost 12 million Dutch guilders. The net rental payments are less than 300 Dutch guilders per average unit of 72 square metres which is exceptional low for housing of this quality in a metropolis like Amsterdam. The ecology-related funding per unit breaks down according to the following themes and sponsoring institutions:

CASCO-PLUS financing system of the WH Grounds (in Dutch guilders)

Currently, the CASCO-PLUS agreement is not applicable to other projects due to the termination of urban renewal funds in Amsterdam.

Evaluation and Statements

One of the most outstanding features of the WH Grounds renewal project is the active participation of local inhabitants. Their influence and ability stimulated a learning process and, furthermore, has been a determining factor of the implementation of ecologically-oriented measures. In particular, this learning process included expanding of environmental goals as exemplified by the 'Het Oosten' housing association and the Amsterdam municipal authorities and later the Oud-West district. This change of policies has to be based on the willingness to invest extra time and energy into the great amount of information, detailed planning, new financial arrangements and the incorporation of integrated ecological precepts.

Source of Information

Bekker, Frits / Tamminga, Ytzen 1996: Fallbeispiel Niederland: Stadterneuerung Wilhelma Gasthuis- terrain, in: Margrit Kennedy / Doris Haas / Declan Kennedy, (Hg.), Zukunftsweisender ökologischer Siedlungsbau in Europa, Band 2: Erneuerungsprojekte, Kissing, Teil 8 / 6.4

Meeder, Nel 1995: Groene renovatie op WG terrein; Hergebruik hoofbowen oud ziekenhuisen ducesvol, in: Renovatie & Onderhoud, Vol. 20, No. 5

Contact:

Cities:

Amsterdam:

The City of Amsterdam has a population of approximately 720,000. The city is the constitutional capital of the Netherlands and the principal city in the western province of North Holland. It is an important seaport and the city is divided by canals into approx. 90 island joined by some 400 bridges. It is one of Europe’s most important commercial centres with a major stock market, financial institutions and insurance firms. Among the leading industries are shipbuilding, sugar refining, publishing, and heavy machinery, paper products, textiles and clothing, porcelain and glass, aircraft, manufacture and chemicals. The city is also famous for polishing and cutting diamonds. It is the site of the Dutch National Academy of Arts, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences and the University of Amsterdam.

Population:

Project was added at 27.02.1998
Project was changed at 10.03.1998