projectalmere

[projectalmere]

When I left Almere in 2009, there was only grass and sand where they’ve now built the area Nobelhorst. And when I was born in Almere, most parts of the city looked exactly like this. #almere #almerestad #nobelhorst #flevoland #flevolandschap #dutchlandscape #dutchlandscapes #thenetherlands #city #suburban # suburbs #polder #rural #nature #photographersofinstagram #denederlanden #nikond600 @igersholland @igerseu @igersalmere @igersflevoland @wonderful_holland @dutch_connextion @instanetherlands #fisheyelemag #somewheremagazine #womenstreetphotographers #almerevooriedereen @almerenieuws @almeredezeweek @gemeente.almere https://www.instagram.com/p/BpTjfAeiKMM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1e221innt18fp

[projectalmere]

Almere is a city that ends abruptly, its borders are like the sharp edges of a perfectly designed square. One small step and you’re in the polder instead of the suburbs. #almere #almerestad #nobelhorst #flevoland #flevolandschap #dutchlandscape #dutchlandscapes #thenetherlands #city #suburban # suburbs #polder #rural #nature #photographersofinstagram (bij Almere) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpRD-CzivQD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6hm80qz0jrfj

[projectalmere]

Do you tend to think each and every square meter in The Netherlands is designed and used for something specific? Yeah, so do many people. But in Oosterwold, Flevoland, something unique is happening. People can buy land and build whatever kind of house they want. Building roads, the sewer and everything else is up to them, too; in collaboration with neighbors or not. There is place for about 15.000 homes. The result? We’ll see in a few years!

[projectalmere]

[projectalmere]

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Op de 'Schaatsen is Cool!’ Schaatsbaan op het Schipperplein, Almere

[projectalmere]

[projectalmere]

[projectalmere]

It was apparently inadequate to design a city like Almere with the same large-scale settlements and elements of other cities, like churches, a main street, a square. The struggle with the question how it should be designed, has lead to the predominant presence of the city's structure, its skeleton. The tabula rasa of the polder shines through it. Not as a base for a utopia, but almost as a ghost image wondering around. It isn't nature anymore, but it isn't anchored culture either. What does this structure tell us about a city? How do we interpret it?

(Taken from 'Van stad naar stedelijkheid : planning en planconceptie van Lelystad en Almere 1959-1974')

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[projectalmere]

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[projectalmere]

The province of Flevoland was drained between 1950-1957 and 1959-1968. It is completely surrounded by water, making it the world's biggest artificial island.

Underneath Almere, located 2-5 meters under sea level, lie some 27 investigated shipwrecks. A few of them were discovered next to the Oostvaardersdijk, IJmeerdijk and in the Noorderplassen. They date from the 15th, 16th and 17th century. Most of these wrecks were found while people were plowing or digging ditches.

[projectalmere]

The city of Almere exists as of 1976. It is divided into 7 different boroughs. Construction of Almere Nobelhorst started in 2013. This residential area is located between enormous heaps of sand and many relatively young trees south-east of Almere Stad. Out of the 198.145 inhabitants of all the boroughs together, (far) less than 1.344 live in Nobelhorst (exact numbers are yet unknown). It has 1 open vacancy, 1 elementary school, 2 busstops, 14 streets according to Google Maps and currently 41 houses for sale. Inhabitants are asked to think along about the design of future living area's.

[projectalmere]

My hometown, fifty years ago.