Progressive energy positive and circular Crailo
Crailo, located between Hilversum, Bussum, and Laren, will be a new energy-positive neighbourhood with housing, workspace, and new nature. A consortium consisting of OKRA, SVP architectuur en urbanism, Arcadis and BV Gebiedscommunicatie (‘Team C’) is developing an urban development and landscape plan on which the three municipalities will decide in early 2020.

Circular building
The urban development and landscape plan include community hubs and a gatehouse. The new Avenue of Crailo for slow traffic connects the subareas and is a necessary passage for wildlife. The Spiegelhorst, the largest building on the site, will not be demolished but developed as an example of circular building and offers space for residential and working areas. The former military exercise area will be retained as a campus-like set-up with the existing and new buildings and is connected to the Bussummerheide. From the entrance, there is a view over this open space.

The wheel of Crailo
The design team developed the ‘Wheel of Crailo’ based on the five pillars of the ambition document and the twelve themes in the Sustainable GWW approach, to ensure that sustainability plays a vital role in every step of the design process. Using this concept, together with stakeholders and experts, we have chosen for durability with a focus on identity, biodiversity, mobility, and energy. The team also spoke extensively with stakeholders and interested parties during the Open Crailo Days, which attracted around 800 visitors.