Nieuw Monnikenhuize, Residential development in Arnhem, Netherlands
Nieuw Monnikenhuize is a residential area in Arnhem containing about 200 homes spread across sloping terrain and interspersed with green spaces. The houses sit at varying heights to work with the landscape, using water and gabion systems to manage elevation changes while preserving mature oak and beech trees.
The site was formerly home to a football stadium that housed SBV Vitesse from 1950 to 1997. After demolition, the land was redeveloped 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 can be explored on foot since paths between homes are accessible and the sloping terrain makes walking engaging. There is plenty of room to wander and the landscape features make navigation straightforward.
The neighborhood uses gabion walls, an architectural element typically seen in infrastructure projects, as a visible design feature. This unusual detail, combined with the open water system, makes land management part of the neighborhood's visual character.
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