1,400 self-build lots, park, market, community centre and more - 2006/2015
The Homerus Quarter is the largest self-built neighbourhood in Dutch post-war history. Here, people show how they build when they're given freedom. No silver lined edges here, but a mishmash of lots. Ideas from Civil Urbanism and 'Divine Houses' have been applied here. In 2006, the municipality of Almere, in the person of alderman Adri Duivesteijn, started the program Ikbouwmijnhuis (Ibuldmyhouse) in Almere. After Homeruskwartier the next step is Oosterwold with full urban planning freedom.
Corine Koole, 'Drive to Almere everone, get out, hold your hand above your eyes against the wind and the crisp polder light, and see and understand the streets of Almere's Homerus and the 'democracy of the sand', as Jacqueline Tellinga described the quarter'.¹
¹Source: De democratie van het zand, Zelf bouwen in het Homeruskwartiervan Almere, author: Corine Koole, fotografie: Ralph Kämena, www.prometheusbertbakker.nl, ISBN 978 90 351 4092 9, 2014.
Interested parties can make their choices via clear brochures and lot passports. Large and small plots for high and low, semi-detached and detached houses. There's something for everyone. At the end of 2007 a start was made with 350 lots. Followed in 2009 with an issue of 300 lots. A small team brought this second issue to the market in six months. Download the HomeruskwartierEast map here (pdf). That was in the middle of the financial crisis. The private individuals continued to build, while the developers came to a standstill. In the end, 1,400 parcels of land are put on the market with the various partial issues.
In 2015, the self-construction district Homeruskwartier was one of the exemplary entries of the Golden Pyramid, the State Prize for inspiring commissioning. The allotment plan has a wide variety of building possibilities. Without wealth. The result is a personal collection of canal houses, terraced houses, multi-generation houses, garden houses and company houses. Built by hundreds of self-confident, 21st century enterprising citizens. The smallest house is less than 50 m2, the largest more than 1,000 m2. Investments range from 100,000 to over 1.5 million euros. One third of the self-built plots have been created through the 'I-build affordable' scheme.
The slideshow below gives an impression of the development of the district.
There is a great deal of interest in the issue of the lots. Photo ©Maarten Feenstra
Start of sale of first phase HomeruskwartierWest, 350 lots, November 2007, Topsporthal Almere.
Artist rendition Bob Brobbel 2009.
One of the first houses in the neighborhood "I build in my garden".
With the lots 'I'm building a mansion', the buyers themselves determine the width of their lot.
On the edge of the park and the water, space has been made for 'I build sustainably'.
About eight hundred families with lower average incomes build their own homes under the 'I build affordable' scheme.
The 'house without' windows lead to a relaxation of the Building Decree for private builders.
The district offers something for everyone.
The parcelling is explained in sales brochures.
Passports then clarify the do's and don'ts for each lot.
The sale of lots takes place from the Lots Shop.
The council motion 'I'm building my shop' leads to the development of the Homer market.
An archaeological site from the Stone Age, 10,000 B.C., determines the shape and size of Homerus Park. Photo geertfotografeert.nl
In the heart of the district, De Alliantie is realising social apartments. Design: Change architects & urban planning.
At the same time as the private sale of the plot, a co-principal competition is being organised by the municipality of Almere, Neprom and SEV.
Edwin Oostmeijer/Van Bekkum's Ithaka project was nominated for the Golden Pyramid in 2014.
Sterrenschool De Ruimte, with two gymnasiums on the top floor, will open its doors in 2015.
Homeruskwartier Centrum is based on a development by Building groups. With entrepreneurs. The German city of Tübingen is the inspiration for this.
In 2010, the model of the centre plan would be filled with a multitude of initiatives. The plan was partially implemented.
In the autumn of 2015, the city council made the remaining self-build plots available for 'ikbouwvooreenander ('ibuildforanother'). The private lots with office spaces in the central area were reprogrammed. In 2015 the district of 100 ha has a positive grex (land development) for 3,400 dwellings.