‘Lomans Holt’ is the winning tender for a residential development in the neighbourhood of Het Spiegel, Bussum. Through a collaboration with Heren 5 architects, G&O, Hamlet Design+Build Technology, Merosch and Slokker Bouwgroep, we developed a plan for two urban villas in Slochterenlaan Noord. The name of the project is a tribute to P.J. Loman, one of the founders of Het Spiegel; ‘holt’ is an old Dutch word for ‘a grove on a hill’, referring not only to the green, nature-inclusive setting and the slight elevation upon which the houses are placed, but also to the sustainable and innovative construction technique with cross-laminated timber (CLT).

The two urban villas with 24 to 26 apartments for the social rental sector, are mainly addressed to seniors. The key to this project is sustainability, with an average GPR score of over 8.5, since it is energy-neutral and therefore compliant with the Paris agreement. This future-proof project was the result of the collaboration of all involved parties and the input of local residents.

The two four-storey apartment villas are placed on a small elevation, while the parking is sunken to open up the views from one side of the plot to the other. A network of meandering paths provides access to the houses and the surrounding English-landscape park, while a wide range of other elements create a rich, biodiverse environment; planters with perennials, a variety of tree species, a wadi, a tiny forest and a fauna-satellite attract birds, insects and bats, further enhancing the qualities of this green setting.