The site of the former Senzora factory will soon be a vibrant neighbourhood with about 130 apartments and townhouses spanning from social, to affordable and high-end units. Commissioned by Le Clercq and BPD and working in close cooperation with the Municipality of Deventer, Karres en Brands designed the urban masterplan and public spaces and provided a first look into the architectural image of the future neighbourhood.

Transformation and reinterpretation
The masterplan for Senzora seeks to provide a respectful, yet ambitious and forward-looking answer to transforming and integrating industrial sites into inner cities. The masterplan integrates important historical buildings but also looks deeper into the site to find inspiration. The entire urban structure of the neighbourhood is defined by the industrial complex and its spatial characteristics. The new Senzora plan is not just responsive to the industrial site, it is an extension of it in every way. A neighbourhood that does justice to the past, present, and forms the basis for a new future!

Among the preserved buildings, the Senzora building, becomes the beating heart of the new neighbourhood integrating public functions surrounded by a cosy neighbourhood plaza. A characteristic network of narrow alleyways connects to the surroundings and provide access to the green waterfront. The historical city bastion is brought back to life in a completely new form: a lush, biodiverse waterfront park that anchors the development on the canal and in the process generating a new public promenade for the entire city.

Future proof
The new Senzora neighbourhood is first and foremost a resilient and sustainable plan. The entire neighbourhood is completely car free, focusing on pedestrian and bike facilities. Cars will be concentrated in a compact underground parking garage leaving a large part of the site for nature and greenery to develop. Green and biodiversity, in various forms, are embed on all levels of the plan: from the lush waterfront promenade to the neighbourhood pocket park and green islands to green roofs and facades. Water will be collected, buffered, and stored on site in public spaces, streets and roofs. Materials from the demolished factory buildings will be re-used and integrated in public spaces.

Process
Once the council house has formally approved the plan we will continue with design development, working together with a team of architects to develop the plans towards implementation. In this phase we will carefully integrate input from consultation sessions with inhabitants as well as various municipal agencies. The neighbourhood should be ready to receive its inhabitants in 2025. Councilwoman Liesbeth Grijsen is ethusiastic about the plans:

“An area with a distinguished look, a stone’s throw away from the city centre that will become a beautiful place to live, work and get together. The plan is made with respect for the history of Senzora. I am looking forward to the further development.”