De Stelt

Part of Nijmegen’s large-scale housing development area De Waalsprong, this plot, Stelt-Zuid, was designed by NEXIT as a group of some 40 dwellings that share a communal orchard. In addition, the owner-occupied homes all have a small private garden adjacent to the orchard. Both privately owned and rental homes are tucked underneath barn-like roofs. Rental units are arranged in a back-to-back fashion and offer terraces as outdoor space. Transverse roofs on the other, privately owned dwellings follow a pattern whose shape, size and number is independent of the allotment. The rows so appear to be made up of various different houses. This reinforces the suggestion of an individual rural origin. The barns are timber clad and equipped with deep projecting roofs that serve as awnings. Timber is also used in finishing the other houses where, in combination with slate cladding, it is also employed as roofing material. Entrances are articulated by high fenestration around the front doors.