Waalwijk (NL)

Inhabited milieu's challenges

Waalwijk is growing at an accelerated pace to 55,000 inhabitants. This increase in scale makes it necessary to raise the level of facilities in the city. Employment in Waalwijk is growing fastest in all of Brabant, which is a great incentive to facilitate the further development of companies in and in direct surroundings of Waalwijk. This quantitative and qualitative leap requires that Waalwijk is an integral part of the larger urban network with good regional connections.
The car traditionally had a prominent place in the streets of Waalwijk, but we want to give space to a wider range of mobility other then train.Various forms of transport, must be part of this to make the city more accessible. The aim is to better connect the city as a whole with the region.
Because Waalwijk does not have a train station, a new vision on the value and position of public transport is necessary in the urban fabric of Waalwijk. A new mobility system that is adaptive in time and promote the growth of the city and its economy. By combining mobility system with; housing, programs related to the logistics businesses, cultural programs Waalwijk aims to create a new urban area with an unique identity which can increase the well-being of people and their environment.

Questions to the competitors

On the Project site, propose a transformation and densification strategy that fosters exchange between local residents and workers in logistics companies by providing space for socializing, co-working, product launches, workshops and so forth.
Propose a mixed-use area with diverse housing types that can accommodate the housing needs of local residents and logistic workers (150 - 200 new homes, 1-bed and 2-bed units).
Integrate a public transport (±4 buses) within the Project area and in addition describe a vision of smart mobility concept for Waalwijk.
Present a phasing out strategy for current parking (±350 cars) located on the site. Ultimately the future parking needs could be located on the northern side of the highway.
The presence of the highway and its associated noise is a challenge that needs to be addressed in the design of the buildings. The highway functions as a mental barrier. How to overcome this?
Within the reflection area, how can the qualities of the existing morphology be enhanced while at the same time find strategies for urban densification and Improving the connections?