Last week, the Breda City Council adopted the environmental plan for Kemelstede, enabling the construction of approximately 350 apartments. This marks an important step in the redevelopment of the site of the former ABN AMRO building in the Heusdenhout district, near the junction of the southern ring road and the A27. In collaboration with Grosfeld Bekkers Van der Velde and commissioned by BVR-Groep, Karres en Brands has been working in recent years on a future-proof, landscape-based vision for this unique location, where the ecological structure of the Molenleij meets the park structure of the Heerbaan.

Kemelstede introduces a diverse residential programme to the neighbourhood while strengthening the existing green structure. The site’s unique location forms the starting point of the plan. Here, the ecological corridor of the Molenleij and the park structure of the Heerbaan converge. The area lies at the transition from the higher, dry sandy ridge to the lower, wetter stream valley. This landscape foundation forms the basis for the urban design, in which the landscape functions as a green and water-rich base.

The buildings are carefully positioned and, by introducing a built parking facility and stacking the programme compactly, space is created to give greenery and water back to the neighbourhood. The plan features a stepped composition in height. On the side of Heusdenhout, the buildings connect to the existing scale, while towards the A27 and the southern ring road a height accent is introduced. This marks the entrance to Breda and gives the location a new regional identity.

Views through the plan provide air, light, and connections to the surrounding landscape structures. Living takes place both at ground level and at height, in an environment where nature, water, and spatial quality are central. With the completion of the design, an important step has been taken towards the further planning process and the realisation of Kemelstede.