Nature in the city: EVA-Lanxmeer shows how it can be done

Welcome to Lanxmeer, a neighborhood thatActs as a 'garden of the whole neighborhood'. The houses are built with biobased materials and often have solar panels and heat pumps. Wadis, ditches and ponds collect rainwater, which strengthens the soil, prevents flooding and recharges groundwater. Green areas connect gardens, parks and the surrounding landscape. This provides a home for birds, insects and small animals, and cools the neighborhood during heat. The neighborhood also has its own renewable energy company for and by residents, Thermo Bello. In addition, a large solar roof provides electricity for shared cars, which are shared through a cooperative. The neighborhood itself is car-free, daarom there is plenty of room for playing, walking and cycling.WIf that makes you hungry, you can visit the organic city and care farm: dhe produces local food together with residents.

Bottom-up initiative 

Such an innovative, thriving neighborhood doesn't just appear overnight, of course. Already in the early 1990s, Marleen Kaptein formulated a substantive programme of requirements for a sustainable residential neighborhood with attention to issues such as resident input, water management and material use. This was later called the EVA concept:Ecological Centre for Education, Information and AdviceKaptein, active in ecological architecture networks, joined forces with designers, architects and scientists for this purpose. Together, they then founded Stichting E.V.A., to actually realize such an ecological housing project. The Culemborg municipality embraced the plans and a close collaboration developed. Future residents and experts also contributed ideas. 

The clear vision of Kaptein and Stichting E.V.A. gave direction and continuity to the process. This made it possible, at a time when Vinex neighborhoods were the norm, to realize something essentially different. The result is impressive: Lanxmeer is now 25 years old and is a sought-after residential location. Currently there are about 350 homes, in addition to facilities such as schools, a swimming pool and a health centre. 

Co-creation citizens and government 

The development of Lanxmeer shows how cooperation between citizens, municipality and province can lead to sustainable urban development. Foundation E.V.A. organized the residents meetings and an ecological design, while municipality of Culemborg bought the land and pre-financed the development costs based on the strong interest of future residents. These costs were recouped through house sales. Moreover, without commercial area developers, there was more room for customization and for NbS such as ecological green management. Province of Gelderland supported the project by allowing exceptions within its housing policy. 

Involved residents 

For and by the people themselves: that characterizes not only the creation of Lanxmeer under the leadership of founder Kaptein, but also the further development of the neighborhood. From the beginning, (future) residents were given a voice, for example in urban planning choices, housing design and green space management. To structure this involvement, the residents' association EVA-Lanxmeer (the BEL) came into being. Still operating under the BEL are working groups such as Terra Bella, the green space working group that maintains the green space with a municipal budget. The involvement of residents leads to an engaged community and stimulates community initiatives, such as the solar roof for electric cars.
 

While this set-up offers many advantages, it also carries risks. Too much freedom without sufficient structure can lead to organizational problems. And not all residents can or want to contribute equally, which can cause tensions. Yet Lanxmeer shows that with the right balance between freedom and support, involving residents as "housing experts," a neighborhood really comes alive.

More than neighbors 

In short, in the Culemborg eco-neighborhood, residents are active participants in a close-knit community. For example, they do not have separate gardens, but share courtyards that they manage together. This creates a lot of connection and ownership. People who want to make their homes more sustainable can seek free advice from experienced neighbors. And for those who need help, there is a point of contact. The neighborhood also has diverse housing, from social rentals to houses for sale and apartments, allowing people from different socioeconomic groups to live together. In short, in addition to being green and peaceful, the neighborhood is also socially designed, contributing to the mental health of its residents. 

Building near water catchment area through smart solutions 

The neighborhood design takes into account not only human well-being, but also the environment. For example, in the middle of Lanxmeer there is a water catchment area of drinking water company Vitens. Yet the parties involved did not label the location as a no-go, but looked at what smart adjustments could be made. For example, the houses were not given traditional foundations, but 'float' on a foam layer pumped into the ground, protecting the groundwater. So-called helophyte filters purify gray water with marsh plants and microorganisms. This puts less strain on the sewer system and contributes to natural water purification. Also special: Terra Bella, the in-house green management company, has an agreement with Vitens. Residents maintain the greenery in the water catchment area, and in turn may use the apple orchard. In this way, the neighborhood shows that even building near a water catchment area is possible, if you take things like water supply and the soil system into account. 

Global interest 

As a living laboratory for sustainable urban development, Lanxmeer attracts much attention at home and abroad. Every year, many groups find inspiration there. Abroad, neighborhoods have already been built according to the EVA concept, such as in France. Although the Netherlands has no exact copies, elements have been adopted in several neighborhoods elsewhere in the country. With this, Lanxmeer shows that scaling up is not always about one-to-one copying, but just as much about sharing a vision and method. This is an interesting learning point for NL2120: even if you cannot or will not adopt an entire concept, you can learn and benefit from other applied NbS. Moreover: a sustainable living environment is never finished. Lanxmeer too was designed and developed step by step, and is still evolving. From additional houses to a new swimming pool: the neighborhood grows along with the needs and initiatives of its residents. 

Building sustainable together 

All in all, Lanxmeer beautifully demonstrates how we can intertwine nature with urban development - even in challenging places like a present water catchment area. It offers inspiration for regions that want to combine living, working, recreation, mobility, water management, drinking water extraction, biodiversity and food production in a future-proof way. And where social cohesion is not a byproduct, but a main ingredient. The neighborhood also shows how much is possible when citizens are given direction, trust and support by government agencies. In this way, innovative projects arise that do not have to be perfect right away, but can grow organically and respond to multiple challenges, from a changing climate to loneliness.Success factor is a group of people who wanted to go for this and were the driving force behind the realization. After completion of the first houses, the EVA concept could more easily be continued, because this was now 'the new normal'.This is how to build green neighborhoods, resilient communities and a healthy future together. 

Authors: Elianne Dummer, Charlotte van Haren, Marlies van Ree and Daan Verstand

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