Slachthuisdistrict Haarlem

vibrant neighborhood around a monumental slaughterhouse

The Slachthuisdistrict Haarlem is a redevelopment of the former slaughterhouse site into a mixed urban neighborhood where living, working, culture, and public space come together. What was built over a hundred years ago as an enclave outside the city now forms an open and accessible urban district. The monumental slaughterhouse is located on Slachthuisplein and serves as the heart of the area, surrounded by a park-like green fringe that marks the transition between the city and the new neighborhood. Historical and new entrances connect the site with the surrounding neighborhoods.
Evabloem VOA Slachthuisdistrict 26 098
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Evabloem VOA Slachthuisdistrict 26 027
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“The Municipality of Haarlem initially aimed to develop 120 traditional terraced houses, an approach that carried the risk of further gentrification in this historically highly diverse neighborhood. With a more feasible and inclusive plan as our starting point, we realized 162 unique homes within the prescribed urban framework. To ensure that living in this urban area is both appropriate and enjoyable, great care was given to the design of both private and shared spaces. This has laid the foundation for an inclusive neighborhood with a clear character and identity centered around the monumental slaughterhouse.”

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Joeri van Ommeren, architect

Integraal ontwerp en inclusieve woningbouw

A carefully layered plan with more inclusive housing

VOA, ZUS, and Hans van Heeswijk developed an integrated plan in which heritage buildings, public space, and housing form a single cohesive whole. Around the slaughterhouse, six new residential buildings were realized, comprising a total of 162 homes.

Through typological adjustments, a wide variety of dwellings was created: small and large, owner-occupied and rental, for young and old. The architecture responds to the brick architecture of the slaughterhouse, combining formal façades facing the public realm with more informal façades oriented toward collective inner gardens and roof terraces.

Transitions between the various public and private spaces were carefully designed, eliminating the need for fences and gates.

Sustainable and vibrant public space

The public space is designed as a connecting and activating element. A long pergola structures Slaughterhouse square and defines the private zone adjacent to the public square. Collective gardens, rooftop gardens, and carefully designed transitions between private and public spaces encourage social interaction and safety. Green and water features serve as the sustainable backbone of the neighborhood, providing water retention, cooling, and biodiversity. Monuments are given a new public role, accommodating cultural and creative functions, transforming the Slachthuis District into a lively, sustainable urban neighborhood for both people and urban wildlife.

Nature-inclusive neighborhood

Nature inclusivity is woven into the design of the Slachthuis District. In an otherwise predominantly paved environment, the plan demonstrates that the city can also provide space for plants and animals. Communal gardens, climbing plants, and integrated nesting boxes together create a habitat for birds, insects, and mammals. A distinctive brick ornamentation has been designed for the façades, inspired by the growth patterns of the climbing plants. These plants were carefully selected to provide food and shelter for target species. The relationship between planting, ornamentation, and nesting facilities is documented using a specially developed method, in which ecology and architecture reinforce each other.

Information

Team Joeri van Ommeren, Fallon Walton, Bob Spitz, Dion Nupoort
Advice Harder, LBP sight, Advier, Warmtebouw, Cie Assist
Client Ontwikkelcombinatie BPD - De Nijs
Contractor Bouwbedrijf M.J. de Nijs en Zonen B.V.
Photographer Eva Bloem
Status under construction