de Werven

These first Almere houses belong to what we call 'the new triteness'. An architectural movement that prioritised small scale and cosiness. Children had to be able to play safely in the street and a diversity of people had to be able to live together. The outcome was Het Woonerf, the ultimate answer to the demand for a safe and varied living environment. A courtyard with greenery in the middle and houses all around, child-friendly and with enough space for cars. There is no through traffic and the density of the buildings means there is automatic contact between the residents. Van Stigt designed groups of 20 to 25 houses on square plots with bevelled corners. In one place, they are in the shape of a cloverleaf around a square with trees. A little further on, the courtyards are more detached from each other. Twenty-six housing types have been realised. Storage spaces, loggias and outdoor staircases are different everywhere. However, the same interior staircases, kitchens and sanitary elements are used each time. This made it possible to build at lightning speed. After all, people were desperate for living space. Anyone visiting De Werven now, forty years later, sees a successful, varied neighbourhood where blue roofs and doors contrast nicely with the mature greenery.