Schoonschip
A sustainable floating community
This renowned circular neighbourhood was initiated and developed by a group of enthusiasts with a shared dream: to build a sustainable, close-knit community on the water. The initiators of Schoonschip commissioned Space&Matter to develop an urban plan, and together with a team of multidisciplinary experts and future residents, we designed the urban plan, plot passport and smart jetty that unite this inspiring community.
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Go to websiteImage credits
Jan Willem Sieburgh
Isabel Nabuurs
Alan Jensen
Hustle Creatives
Sascha Glasl
Rogier van den Brink
Daniel Sudkamp
Linda Tonin
Federica Heimler
Willem van Es
Sven Hoogerheide
Martijn van Wijk
Bartels Vedder
Gemeente Amsterdam
Grid-Friends
LBP Sight
Metabolic
Esther Roos / BVF Project Management
SBR-Curnet
Spectral
UtilitiesTree Delft
XA4
Waterloft
Waternet
Created and developed by citizens
For more than a decade, the members of Schoonschip worked towards the creation of their dream homes. Their journey began in 2010 when frontwoman Marjan de Blok felt inspired and compelled to create an energy-neutral neighbourhood on the water with friends and acquaintances who shared her dream.
Fully completed in 2021, Schoonschip consists of thirty water plots and is home to more than 100 residents. Roughly half of the boats are shared by two families, and all forty-six houses are unique since each household designed their own house with an architect of their choosing. As a result, the neighbourhood is characterised by creativity and self-expression.
Translating dreams into reality
Schoonschip’s residents forged strong bonds in the decade during which they set out to realise their dream homes. Our masterplan of this neighbourhood reflects their dedication and cohesion. The smart jetty connects all houses with each other and with the necessary technical infrastructures and was designed to facilitate casual encounters between members of the community. A plot passport ensures a sense of unity despite the architectural diversity of the homes.
Local solutions to global problems
On a small scale, Schoonschip explores and applies innovative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges brought forth by climate change. Schoonschip’s residents live in highly eco-efficient buildings that were remotely manufactured, and share everything from electric cars and cargo bikes to the clean energy they generate on the houseboat roofs.
Built on a circular community model, Schoonschip’s solar panels are connected to a smart grid where residents can trade energy. It contains decentralised and renewable solutions to water, energy, and waste systems, as well as submersed heat exchangers for heating and cooling.
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Frontrunner and pioneer
Schoonschip strives to be open source. The owners association VvE Schoonschip strives to be both frontrunner and pioneer, setting out to create a breeding ground for the latest sustainable techniques and solutions.
Now that the project has been completed, members of the community work closely together to improve their residential area and achieve local loop closure. Its members connected in every conceivable way, Schoonschip demonstrates how circular neighbourhoods can be created by people who take matters into their own hands.
