Durability and collectivity connected in residential project Leyhof

A subtle transition between city and nature

On the western edge of the city, in the Erasmusveld district, Studio Ard Hoksbergen in collaboration with Workshop Architects (Ivar van der Zwan and Miland Pallesh) created a special ensemble of houses with project Leyhof. This project represents a subtle transition between city and nature and shows how contemporary house construction on human scale can contribute to a durable and collective living environment.

The project consists of 75 apartments, 33 townhouses, 4 collective spaces and a parking garage. Seniors, families and young starts all live together here. The urban plan places strong emphasis on collectivity and space for meeting, with great attention to greenery and soft embedding in the surroundings. Thus, thanks to various ideas from brainstorming sessions, the project features a laundry bar, a neighbourhood room, a communal inner garden, a study and a guest room.

“Constructing less, sharing more”

“In order to build durable, we have focused on reducing the building volume. We did this by keeping homes small and giving back collective space in return. In addition, the building is equipped with 1000m² of solar panels, a collective groundwater pump and there are 4 shared cars and bikes which residents can make use of” – says Ard Hoksbergen.

Material and atmosphere

Leyhof’s architecture is modest, but rich in detail. A tiered design was deliberately chosen, in order to get the best possible lighting (higher on the forest side and descending towards the park), oriented towards the sun for all homes and an inviting appearance. The homes are built out of a balanced palette of materials: prefab concrete, wooden façade parts and a characteristic, light-coloured facing brick. This brick, coming from Vande Moortel, has a central role in the overall view of the project.

“We were looking for a fresh, light-coloured brick that goes well with the other materials of the design”, clarifies Ard Hoksbergen. “The facing brick provides a soft appearance and strengthens the natural image of the ensemble. It adds to the warm, welcoming atmosphere.”

A durable choice for ecological ECO-7 format

The choice of this specific facing brick is not only motivated aesthetically. The moulded brick is ecologically responsible with its shallow depth of approx. 70mm and is made with 30% less clay, which contributes to the durability ambitions of the project. At a time when circularity and material-conscious design are becoming increasingly important, Leyhof shows how there is room for sustainable innovation even in traditional building materials. “The brick supports our ambition to reduce the environmental impact of the project,” says Hoksbergen. “In addition, the size of the bricks nicely matches the scale of the houses and enhances the tactility of the facade.”

A natural and soft palette

What else makes Leyhof special is how the different materials complement each other. The white-grey cementing on the Vande Moortel facing bricks harmonises nicely with the prefab concrete of the baseboards and façade parts of greying wood. . This creates a natural colour palette, with earthy tones that blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape context.

The choice of materials is an example of the design philosophy of Studio Ard Hoksbergen: modest, durable and with an eye for human scale. Leyhof does not only offer a response to the housing shortage, but also asks: how do we want to live together in a changing world? With Leyhof, Studio Ard Hoksbergen demonstrates that quality, durability and collective living can go hand in hand perfectly. An inspiring example for architects who are looking for a modern response to the demands of tomorrow.