Nieuw Monnikenhuize, Residential development in Arnhem, Netherlands
Nieuw Monnikenhuize is a residential area in Arnhem built on sloping ground, where houses sit at different heights among mature oak and beech trees. The layout follows the natural shape of the land rather than flattening it, giving the neighborhood an uneven and wooded character.
Before the housing was built, the site held a football stadium used by SBV Vitesse from 1950 to 1997. Once the stadium was torn down, the land was turned into a residential neighborhood between 1997 and 2000.
The architects who worked on this development drew on Dutch design principles to create spaces where residents naturally gather and spend time together. The way green areas are distributed between homes shapes daily life and creates informal meeting points throughout the neighborhood.
The area is easy to explore on foot, as the paths between homes are open and the sloping ground makes the walk varied. Comfortable shoes are a good idea since some sections drop more steeply than others.
Gabion walls, a type of structure normally used in road or civil engineering, were brought into the neighborhood as a visible design element. Alongside the open water channels that manage drainage on the slope, these features make the land itself part of what you see as you walk through.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
