After six years of work on the masterplan, we can finally publish Craibosch. On the border between Blaricum and Laren, on the site of the former Tergooi Hospital, Craibosch introduces an innovative model for living in and with the landscape. In an integrated design by Karres en Brands and Studioninedots, the area is being transformed into a vibrant, inclusive residential environment covering 80,000 m², where care, housing, nature and community life come together. The plan demonstrates how densification, ecological quality and quality of life can reinforce one another.

The plan is based on a number of clear principles.

Continuity: the site’s history dates back to 1903, when the Hoog Laren sanatorium opened its doors here. In 1990, Gooi-Noord Hospital took over the site, until its relocation to Hilversum in 2023. The masterplan deliberately builds on that century-long relationship between health and the landscape.

Reuse as a foundation: a large part of the existing hospital structure will be retained; new volumes will be built on the existing footprint; and the basements will be converted into underground car parks. This minimises waste and earthworks.

Human scale: the hospital complex has been divided into an ensemble of residential clusters, guided by daylight, sightlines and the existing trees on the site.

The veranda typology: covered outdoor spaces that open the homes up to the landscape and enable outdoor living all year round.

The Buurtbrink: the neighbourhood’s social hub, featuring community greenhouses, seating areas, catering facilities and shared mobility options, as well as a pergola made from reused concrete salvaged from the demolition.

Materials: demolition materials are repurposed in the pergola, staircases, play areas and furniture. Paved surfaces give way to greenery and wadis that retain water and restore biodiversity.

Density and quality: a rich variety of housing types, from ground-floor flats to communal housing, within a compact structure where access to nature and shared facilities determine the quality of life, not exclusivity.