Almere urban redevelopment

Almere dates from 1976. OMA won the competition to design the centre in 1994.
In The Skira Yearbook of World Architecture 07-08 Nicola Russi comments about OMA's Almere Masterplan. He says that they focus on the 'voids', because half the land was apparently left empty to allow for future development.



A terracotta coloured fascia banding connects the central buildings. As the ground slopes down to the water the spaces open up and also become less occupied. This is a successful new city centre. The growth of the city will provide the center with the basis for a number of essential facilities; such as a cultural nucleus and large scale retail facilities. The density of the shopping complex means that the boulevard can be freed from the planned commercial program leaving space for cultural and leisure programs.



The proposal superposes pedestrians and buildings on top of a layer that organises all infrastructures, creating a density of public presence in the (new) center as a place "other" than the existing city in terms of density, spatial diversity and orientation to achieve a place of maximum public interaction.



The mix of program is composed of approx. 67.600 m2 commercial, 9.000m2 leisure, 890 housing units, 3300 constructed parking spaces. The program includes also a new library, a hotel, a pop music hall and a theatre. The commercial concepts were tested on the proposed urban blocks and the hybrid combination of programs. The boulevard alongside the Weerwater is utilised for leisure, nightlife and cultural programs to achieve a vital waterfront. Construction of the first building started in December 1998.



http://www.e-architect.co.uk/holland/almere_masterplan_oma.htm