BE Magazine Volume 5, Issue 2 - (Page 32) GEOSPATIAL BE Award Winner Urban Islands Amsterdam solves housing shortage with mixed-used development on Lake IJmeer and individuals. The new urban area requires a light-rail connection to Amsterdam, more than 80 bridges to connect the islands to one another and the mainland, roads, water and sewer systems, utilities, and sports and leisure areas. Development of IJburg is proceeding in phases. Each of the seven islands will have its own unique characteristics, but the common PROJECT OVERVIEW I n the most densely populated area of the Netherlands, the city of Amsterdam undertook the monumental challenge of designing a community for 45,000 inhabitants on 495 hectares of nonexistent land. Creating a new landmass by reclaiming seven islands from dredged sand in IJmeer, a lake on Amsterdam’s east side, residents with a fondness for waterfront property will have their choice of custom homes or high-rise apartments. The mixed-used development known as IJburg is the first integrated and sustainable urban development project of its size constructed in an environmentally sensitive area. A multibillion euro project that will increase Amsterdam’s housing capacity by 6 percent and provide shelter, education, employment, and leisure activities for its residents, the project includes the design and construction of 18,000 single-family homes as well as apartment buildings, schools, office complexes, city parks, and beaches. Construction began in 1996 and is scheduled to be completed by 2020. IJburg Organization City of Amsterdam Physical Planning Department BE Awards Category Geospatial Government Project Objective Design 420-hectare, mixed-use sustainable urban development project located on seven artificial islands urban design scheme is based on a rectangular grid of neighborhood blocks, green strips, and waterways. The blocks are being designed by teams of architects overseen by one supervisory team, while private plots are being developed without oversight. While the urban design concepts will be experimental in nature, the design of public spaces will provide cohesion among the communities. As the gateway to IJburg, the island of Steigereiland is a “collage city” with eight individualized neighborhoods, including more than 200 floating homes. Haveneiland, the largest island, is divided into east and west districts with a diverse mixture of housing, businesses, restaurants, and bars. Centrumeiland is the central junction and will have a distinctly urban character. On the three smaller islands, including Rieteiland, residential plots are being developed by their owners. Island neighbors An estimated 3,000 people will ultimately be involved in the IJburg development. The Bentley-enabled environment provides a unified vision and quality control. “Within this integrated environment, our design team can easily exchange inforv The city of Amsterdam designed a community for 45,000 inhabitants by reclaiming seven mation with governmental departments islands from dredged sand inside and outside of Amsterdam, as well The city of Amsterdam’s physical planning department designed as with companies in the Netherlands and abroad,” said Arjan the infrastructure and public spaces, and allocated plots for develMolenaar, project coordinator for the physical planning departopment by corporate and private investors, housing developers, ment. “Once created, the information is reused many times and can 32 BE MAGAZINE | Volume 5, Issue 2
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