De Marken

There was once a Coöperatieve Woonvereniging Centraal Wonen Almere Haven, the CWAH, which wanted to develop a safe, social and pleasant living environment for people regardless of their income or education. The association set up an administrative structure, made a plan and boldly hired an architect. Ben Loerakker designed a street with a double row of houses on each side, facing each other with their gardens. The street ends in a circular lawn on which another 12 houses are located. A shed and a chat house, both jointly owned, tell of the original concept, aimed at contact and togetherness. A number of houses on the lawn have been raised. Many have deviated from the original colours of white and blue for the doors and window frames, but in the wider part of the street, which includes trees, it is still easy to see how it was once intended. The side elevations of the two houses at the beginning of the street are finished with angled wooden slats, surrounding a rectangular brick plane. The second floor of both protrudes forward, forming a gateway giving access to the neighbourhood.