A green update from the construction site of Hòfi Vidanova. They’ve just planted the first trees. The hòfi’s, or small community gardens, are a big part of our design.
In total we have designed 27 hòfi’s. Each hòfi is connected to another within walking distance. You can recognize the route via the yellow pavement, which indicates that you enter a residential area. Every hòfi has its own type of trees. We’ve made a distinction between color of flowers of the trees.
More than 250 trees
We have made three types of hofi’s. First, the local hofi’s – those are designed for people to meet the people next door. Hòfi’s on the main route – designed to make people meet from the whole neighborhood. And last of all: special hofi’s – which are spaced with large differences in heights. People can meet in their ‘own’ hòfi and enjoy common areas.
They are working on the construction of the first phase. The first phase of this project contains about 150 homes, and 27 hofi’s. We will plant more than 250 trees in the neighborhood. Each hòfi has its own native trees, with a separate color so that there is a subtle distinction between the hòfi’s. There are many different type of trees. We’re happy to see the first trees being planted and that the new residents are working on their own gardens.
Safe, nice green spaces
The reason why we’ve paid a lot of attention to the greenery is because we wanted these places for people to meet each other. Since people mainly meet each other outside in the Caribbean, we wanted to make this a nice and comfortable area. As we have researched for different projects within a tropical climate, trees make the environment cooler. On a hot, windless day, a leafy neighborhood may feel 10 to 15 degrees Celsius cooler than an urban area that is more exposed to the sun. That is why we’ve made so many places where people can enjoy the outside.
To also realize this spatially, we have chosen to make a distinction between roads. The main routes are recognizable by the distinctive black pavement, which are meant for cars. The roads between the hofi’s are reserved for pedestrians, creating safe and inviting spaces where children can play freely. These parts are designed using yellow asphalt.
In addition to enhancing the area with abundant greenery, we have prioritized sustainability throughout the project. This includes the integration of solar panels, high-quality insulation, and an innovative rainwater harvesting system. The collected rainwater will not only serve the homes but will also be utilized for irrigating the public green spaces, ensuring the plants and landscapes thrive while reducing water waste. Our emphasis on green solutions underscores our commitment to both the environment and the community’s long-term well-being.
Next up
As you can see construction is still in full swing but the first homes were already completed in 2024! We hope that the first phase will be fully completed in the first half of 2025, with all the green spaces planted and integrated into the area. Following this, we aim to commence the next phase of the project, which will involve the construction of the second segment of the planned 300 homes, bringing us closer to realizing the full vision of the development.
