Deventer, located on the Ijssel river, is a historic ‘Hanzenstad’ with a long tradition of industry, trade, and entrepreneurship. The development of the Havenkwartier is an important milestone in the broad transition from the local production economy to a knowledge-driven innovation economy. Our competition submission for a residential building ‘De Overslag’, aims to manifest this ambition on the scale of the building, the neighbourhood, and the city.
‘Overslag’ literally means the transfer of goods from one owner to another. Spatially, it is associated with cranes, quays, silos, and harbors, associated with the Havenkwartier. Our proposal uses this concept as a metaphor for social, material, and economic exchange between people and their environment within the future building in the Havenkwartier. The building consists out of a biobased residential core on top of a lively work plinth, wrapped by a representative circular steel facade.
75% biobased and circular from the moment it’s constructed
The sustainable building is constructed using 75% biobased materials, with a primary structure made of CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber). The project sources its biobased and circular materials primarily from the “Stedendriehoek” region of Deventer, Zutphen, and Apeldoorn. A circular steel façade made from reclaimed steel profiles creates a project that is circular from the moment it is constructed. The facade protects the wooden core, extends its lifespan, gives character to the building and provides sun shading. In collaboration with the circular platform Duspot, the steel façade will be crafted using standard profiles that are regularly available through the platform. Both the CLT and steel structures are designed to be fully demountable, featuring “dry” connection details for ease of assembly and disassembly. The oversized CLT core, combined with the complete separation of the structural and installation systems, enhances flexibility and further extends the building’s lifespan.
Assemblage as a circular aesthetic
The interplay between the wooden core and steel façade creates a subtle dialogue between materiality and outdoor spaces, the natural and industrial, the new and circular, and the heavy and light. The building embraces circularity as its central aesthetic, where the expressive assemblage of reclaimed steel profiles forms its ornament. By incorporating steel profiles of varying sizes—sourced from the circular market—different typologies within the building are emphasized. These steel profiles are cut to size and painted green, preserving their patina as a testament to circular design, with traces of their past life remaining visible. The painting unifies the steel structure and establishes a distinctive, omnidirectional beacon within the Havenkwartier.
Social circulation spaces
The target audience of De Overslag consists of young professionals from diverse backgrounds who seek social interaction within the building and neighborhood, embrace the city’s vibrancy, and embody a new working culture. The building supports this vision through shared amenities and the circular façade designed as a social circulation space with private outdoor areas, encouraging interaction among residents. These principles of social engagement and flexible working culture are reflected in the apartment layouts, where the living room and bedroom-workspace can be mirrored to align with residents’ preferences relative to the social gallery. A recess in the wooden façade creates a bay that residents can appropriate and make their own.
Makers spaces and programming the waterfront
The plinth will feature a program of maker spaces and workspaces. This program will complement the existing functions in the Havenkwartier and contribute to the area’s vibrancy throughout the day. Folding glass facades will seamlessly connect the interior and exterior spaces and strengthens the relationship between the waterfront and urban square. Given the limited space on the site, there will be a focus on seasonal programming on a flexible floating platform and along the waterfront.
