KCAP with 2 projects in Yearbook Landscape Architecture and Urban Design 2014

At the Building Green conference in Copenhagen on November 2nd and 3rd, Jeroen Dirckx, urban planner and associate at KCAP, will introduce KCAP's approach to sustainable urban design and present three international cases as keynote speaker. Since its founding in 1989, KCAP is focussing on realising sustainable urban neighbourhoods with a strong social coherence. With the GWL Terrain in Amsterdam, KCAP pioneered in designing a car-free living environment with communal facilities and urban farming. In Hamburg, we planned the flood-resilient HafenCity urban expansion, one of the largest brownfield developments in Europe, which received a TOD Gold Award. More recently, KCAP leads the multi-disciplinary design team of the CO2-neutral FredericiaC project in Denmark. This transformation of a polluted former harbour area into a vital new city district includes themes like climate change adaptation, urban prosperity, energy efficiency, urban farming, participation, temporary landscape and social cohesion. 

The construction progress of the first canal and the emerging of the public spaces of FredericiaC is progressing. The canal is a key element in KCAP's urban plan for the transformation of the former brownfield into a new city district and integrates water as important element into the site to create an attractive maritime environment. On YouTube there are 2 impressing timelapse movies showing the contruction of the canal and the first bridge. VIew here timelapse 1, and here timelapse 2.

After FredericiaC had signed the agreement for the development of a plot at the canal last month an overwhelming interest in buying or renting a house has reached the company. Already 180 people have signed in. The block will contain 40 social housing units, 16 condominiums and 600 m2 offices.

FredericiaC has signed an agreement with the housing association Futura Fredericia and a private investor for the construction of 56 apartments and 600 m2 office space next to the first canal in KCAP's urban concept for FredericiaC. Find here the official press release (in Danish).

KCAP is proud to be included with 2 projects in the Yearbook Landscape Architecture and Urban Design 2014. With FredericiaC in the category 'the innovative city' and with OZ Nature Urbaine Montpellier in 'station areas'.

Kees Christiaanse together with Benedikt Boucsein and Christian Salewski are the authors of an article within the topic 'Station and airport in the city' of S+RO 2014/05. [[file:sro201405]]

KCAP is one of a range of Dutch architects published in 'Discover Benelux', a special of the Business Inflight & Members magazine of among others British Airways, Swiss Air and the business lounges of KLM and Air France. Click here for the online version. (KCAP on p. 36)  

KCAP is included in the exhibition '100 Architects of the Year 2014' organised by the Korean Institute of Architects (KIA) and showcased in Gwangju, Korea. The exhibition is part of the 33rd KIA Convention & Exhibition and proved to be one of the most prestigious exhibitions in Korea for architects and designers. The exhibition runs from November 5-9th. Click here for more information.

In Montpellier the construction of the infrastructure for the realisation of KCAP's masterplan OZ Nature-Urbaine has started. The first progression of the infrastructure bindle building process is visible and gives an impression of the new TGV station site.

Yesterday, the official start ceremony of the digging of the first canal for the urban development FredericiaC was celebrated. Herewith the beginning of the first phase of the 21 ha waterfront development is officially announced. KCAP together with Ramboll and Fakton is responsible for the masterplan for the project.

In August, the 21ha waterfront regeneration scheme FredericiaC will start with digging the first cana and announces herewith the beginning of the first phase of the development. KCAP has developed the masterplan for the project based on a first prize competition win in collaboration with Ramboll and Fakton in 2011. Click here for the official press release (in Danish).

A new film has been launched by Realdania that invites to discover how life in the first stages of the new district of FredericiaC can be lived. View the film on youtube.

Kees Christiaanse contributes to the current issue of Dutch monthly De Architect about station areas with his essay: 'Europe by train' (Europa per spoor).De Architect: 'In his article Kees Christiaanse examines in detail the German and French approach to developing a network of high speed trains. He concludes that the implementation of high-speed lines does not compete with other modes of transport such as cars and aircraft, but supplemts them. It is up to the traveler to find the right combination of modes of transport.'  [[file:1306dearchitect]] 

KCAP’s masterplan FredericiaC in Denmark has received an 2012 Excellence on the Waterfront Honor Award in the category ‘plans’. This annual award, organized by the US-based Waterfront Center since 1987, gives recognition to international waterfront developments. They are judged by their sensitivity of the design to water, their quality and harmony of design, the impact of civic contribution, environmental aspects as well as enrichment and difficulty. In total ten projects were awarded of which eight built projects and two plans. The award ceremony took place during the Waterfront Center’s 30th International Conference in Washington, DC, US.

The WAN AWARDS Urban Regeneration celebrates and promotes the best in international urban design, landscape & infrastructure projects. In the category of unbuilt projects, KCAP's FredericiaC masterplan is longlisted as one of 20 projects. The shortlist will be announced October 16th.Click here to view the longlist.

KCAP Architects&Planners in collaboration with landscape architects ILEX and sustainability advisor Oasiis are selected for the development of the area Quartier Gare TGV.  The commission, chaired by Jean-Pierre Moure, President of Montpellier Agglomeration, has appointed KCAP’s design after a 6 months competitive dialogue procedure with international three candidates including team Christian de Portzamparc (France) and team Daniel Libeskind (USA). The development called ‘Oz Montpellier Nature Urbaine’ is one of the ‘grand projets’ of the Montepellier Agglomeration and comprises of a 350 ha area around the future TGV station to be built in the south of the city. The area will develop in a mixed urban district with 5.000 residences, parks and gardens, commercial and recreation facilities and a business area of European scale with 350,000 m² of offices. As it expands between the city of Montpellier, the airport and the Mediterranean Sea it involves as well the future high-speed railway line LGV between Montpellier and Nimes and the new motorway A9. ‘In order to direct this development in a sustainable way over a long period, we have designed a strong underlying framework of public spaces with the landscape as an important base and driver. This framework, that carefully incorporates the new infrastructure, allows for a phased development that is open for change, but that creates a strong identity at the same time,’ says Kees Christiaanse. Validation of the masterplan is estimated in the summer of 2013. The first offices should be delivered in late 2017.

In late August the proposal for the development plan for FredericiaC was released. The plan shows how the development of FredericiaC over the next 20-25 years can create a radical, positive and visible change for the city and the region around Fredericia. The elaboration of the development plan is based on the winning competition design of KCAP of 2010. Click here to view a movie of the development plan.