De Fantasie Architectuur
Faced with the results of the first construction period, some concerned Almonds wondered why the new city did not immediately include he...
Faced with the results of the first construction period, some concerned citizens of Almere wondered why the new city did not immediately start building in an innovative way. As it turned out, the load of rules and regulations simply encouraged generic building. This insight led in 1982 to the formation of the Comité De Fantasie and the launch of a competition for a literally fantastic temporary home with the theme 'Unusual Living'. After all, that temporariness meant you could get out from under a lot of rules. The RIJP cooperated and made a piece of land available at the southwest point of het Weerwater. A flood of plans came in, judged by the committee on inventive use of materials, new housing forms and original constructions. Ten house designers, who didn't care about building regulations, were temporarily given a 400-square-metre patch on the designated site as a prize. The houses all became remarkable and the little neighbourhood soon became a draw for visitors from home and abroad. No wonder temporariness turned into permanence and Almere built up a name as a city of experimental residential architecture.
