Wild, Art, Raw, Tech and Zwols. In other words, WärtZ. A name that not only reflects what will be the atmosphere of the new innovation district, but at the same time refers to the existing Wärtsilä hall with its typical, undulating roof. This will be the new icon of this future place-to-be. The hall with its superstructure will become iconic in WärtZ.
With innovation as an engine for the urban and regional economy, WärtZ provides the stage for innovation to support Zwolle's ambition to become the fourth economic top region of the Netherlands.
Ambitious, innovative and vibrant innovation district WärtZ, Zwolle, Overijssel
The WärtZ area development in Zwolle will be a contemporary second city center on the south side of the railway station. It will be a vibrant living environment with housing, restaurants, educational institutions, neighborhood facilities and space for creative makers. In the area, which is part of Spoorzone Zwolle, there will be a railroad park with the characteristic Wärtsilä hall as its beating heart. A place where innovation, future-oriented living and working come together.
- Inspiring ecosystem for innovation and development
- Future-oriented working, living and learning
- Greenest innercity station area in the Netherlands
Project
Type
Program
Design
LOLA Landscape Architects, Orange Architects, MDRDV
Partners
Gemeente Zwolle, DGMR, Pieters Bouwtechniek, Stepforward, Kwirkey, NS
Realisation
BAM Wonen
Status
In development
Type
Housing, commercial spaces, amenities
Program
850 housing units, 26,500 m2 nonresidential program with hospitality, education, neighborhood amenities and spaces for creative makers
Number of homes
850
Nurturing talent and businesses from across the region
Innovation district
WärtZ will be the place where innovation, creativity, future-oriented living, studying, staying and working on challenges of the future come together. This will create an important new innovation district as a breeding ground for talent and companies from the entire region. With WärtZ, the historic center of Zwolle will have a contemporary second city center on the south side of the station.
New innercity residential environment
In addition to being an economic and cultural hotspot, this development will also give Zwolle's city center a new inner-city residential environment. This includes space for special housing concepts such as care homes, co-living student studios and Friends homes. About thirty percent of the housing is intended for social rent.
Greenest innercity station area in the Netherlands
The public space of WärtZ stimulates encounters and brings people closer to nature. The landscape design by LOLA Landscape Architects is based on the principles of 'urban rewilding', which returns parts of the public space to nature.
WärtZ gives priority to walkers, cyclists and public transport users, with attractive slow-traffic routes, multifunctional (parking) hubs, a wide range of partial transport, a Bicycle Innovation Center in the vicinity of NS Station Zwolle. Efforts are being made to make WärtZ energy-positive, circular and CO2-neutral, matching the city's sustainability ambitions and the future of our planet.
