Concept

The design proposal for 'De Waterkwekerij', an urban development in the town of Alkmaar, have been characterised by a high-density building program and extensive public green and water areas. The new development will be located on the former waste water treatment plant in Alkmaar, a plant soon to be replaced by a new membrane bio reactor (MBR). As a result of the latest technologies, MBR plants have become much more compact and can now be placed underground for most part. The MBR earmarked for implementation on 'De Waterkwekerij' will be situated in the southern part of the site and will be covered by a publicly accessible waterpark. The northern part will comprise offices and a mix of 500 residential units, in apartment buildings and terraced houses. Commercial and cultural facilities will also be part of this development. The total project will be constructed according to strict sustainable principles, e.g. heat recovery from waste water. Water will continue to play its central role on the site: treated effluent, the clean water leaving the MBR, will be revitalised and will flow around a newly created island. The former sludge depositions will be submerged in water. The island, with its floating houses moored around it, will be made accessible through a natural system of dykes.

Water plays a central role in Group A's sustainable development

Group A’s design is one of the three schemes that have been selected for the EURPA by the BNSP, the Dutch association of Spatial Planners. Sustainability, an exemplary role, innovation, participation and transformation were key issues for the jury. The three shortlisted projects will represent the Netherlands in a European competition that is issued every two years by the European Council of Spatial Planners (ECTP). The three nominees will be submitted to an international jury, who will choose an overall winner from all the European nominees this coming autumn.

Group A's sustainable development

Client : City of Alkmaar,
Hoogheemraadschap Hollands
Noorderkwartier
Project Address : Bergermeer, Alkmaar
Function : living, working, park, culture,
waste water treatment plant
Type : redevelopment RWZI area
Task : urban planning
Task description :
urban planning for major urban programma
in combination with a compact
wastewater treatment plant
Dimensions : approx. 23 ha
Status : current
Start design : April 2006
Start construction : planned 2008.

Other Projects / Harbour Island / Rotterdam, NL

The fascinating opportunity to stimulate urban integration through powerful and innovative interventions has lead to the Harbour Island concept. Harbour Island has been situated in the Rijnhaven in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, a location next to the intersection between the main North-South traffic artery and the river Maas. The Maas could be considered an urban, economic and social barrier between the northern and southern part of the city. The Harbour Island proposals in response have formulated an answer to this problem: not only will the island contribute to strengthening the urban fabric in the wider surroundings, but it also will have the potential to concentrate and unify the current fragmented waterfront. This 21st century Urban Entertainment Island will be accessible to the people of Rotterdam and foreign visitors alike. A 'Ponte Vecchio'-bridge will lead the visitor to a new, vibrant urban square which will be centrally located on the island. All public routes and paths will come together in this magical space, surrounded by cafes, restaurants and terraces.Harbour Island envisages to become an international landmark destination, powerful enough to regenerate economic growth in the South of Rotterdam and for the city as a whole. The development will dramatically transform the city’s skyline. Causing admiration and distaste, the proposals for Harbour Island could evoke controversy.

Other Projects / Park Vijfsluizen / Vlaardingen NL

The former Shell grounds in Vlaardingen will be redeveloped to create the CO2 neutral lifestyle park Vijsluizen. The grounds, with excellent public transport connections, seem to be cut out for a lifestyle park that comprises offices, a large public park, restaurants, shops, a hotel and other facilities. The built-up areas will all be located on the borders of the park, while at the same time it will function as a noise barrier that blocks out the sound from the adjacent highway. The heart of the park, with its English Landscape garden and its sports palace dating back to the nineteen fifties, will be preserved and will remain accessible to visitors. The existing water surface will be enlarged, and will serve as a reservoir for the new buildings. These and other techniques will contribute to an extremely balanced ecological system. Vijfsluizen can be regarded as a pilot project: never before have environmentally friendly and sustainable techniques like these been used on such a large scale in Europe.

Other Projects / Shanghai Nr. 1 / Shanghai

GROUP A has designed an urban scheme for a location in central Shanghai. The site covers a full urban block and will be hosting a 200,000 sqm mixed use development, comprising hotel apartments, a hotel, offices, retail, leisure and carpark. GROUP A started out by exploring a number of possible design options for the site. Eventually three proposals were shortlisted and have subsequently been developed further. The three design concepts, each having their own unique approach and characteristics, are: Crystal Mountains, Fortune Bowls and Compass Grid. All three options have been influenced and inspired by either Chinese culture, architecture, urbanism or landscapes. The design challenge the team stood for was to create a destination that will have a strong pulling power. Indeed, the ambition to be a much sought after location within the demanding and energetic dynamics of a city like Shanghai, requires a forward looking strategy. GROUP A always intend to couple atmosphere, commercial viability and feasibility with disciplines that are distinct and address the cities desire to encourage architecture that beautifies her skyline.

Group A

GROUP A is a studio for urban design, architecture and interior design. It has a staff of around 35 architects and 9 support staff, and is lead by Adam Visser, Folkert van Hagen and Maartan van Bremen. The office is an international collective of architects that functions as a design studio. Our inspiring, light and airy, open plan office that emanates a positive atmosphere. Workshops, research, seminars and discussions go hand in hand with the production and execution of drawings of every design stage of the project.
For each project a design team is formed, lead by one of the partners. GROUP A, however, has a flat organisational structure. The partners stimulate their staff to contribute their specific talents, know-how and experience to continually improve the qualities of the design; a method of working that encourages involvement and creates synergy, motivation and responsibility.
The three partners themselves each add their own experience and knowledge to the collective, thus providing the office with an overall framework.