The ideal industrial estate has infrastructure as a starting point, is part of the regional economy, is linked with the geographical location, has a programme based on long term exploitation and uses local natural resources. The sustainable industrial estate of 2020 characterises itself as a region-specific business-landscape. To this use the vision at provincial scale is translated into four different business typologies. These typologies are determined by two questions: who develops and how are the developments sustainable by social-cultural conditions, the economical profile and the natural conditions of the landscape.
Business-Island
Adjacent to a regional main road in the countryside, industrial estates are grouped together and profit from others products and their nuisances in the form of residual heath, waste and by-products. These will be exchanged in a chain management system between companies. Spatial and ecological qualities will be united in a new rural ensemble as a 'homestead'.
Free-range Estate
Free-range estates revitalise the countryside through the use of local, region bound production possibilities and guarantee the continuing openness of the landscape at places where the pressure of the cities is at its highest. Extensive cattle breeding is made possible, roaming cattle graze a richly diverse landscape network of fields, heaths and forest. This is made possible by removing intrusive infrastructure. New small scale intensive agricultural production focuses on the local market. Both the intensive and extensive use of the landscape attracts new possibilities for informal recreation close to neighbouring cities.
Knowledge Network
Knowledge exchange is, due to digital infrastructure, no longer bound to light industrial estates or office parks. This digital infrastructure generates traffic reduction by working from home and vitalises a 'Microsoft countryside'. Formal business encounters and social meetings take place in the Team Building, whose position is determined by accessibility and urban, cultural conditions. It is locally positioned in a knowledge and research centre such as a university or centre of higher education
Client: Province of Overijssel
Project: Scenario development for sustainable business estates
Planning: Closed tender assignment 1999, scenario development 2000-2001, publication 2002
In collaboration with: Lodewijk Baljon landscape architects Amsterdam and The International Institute of the Urban Environment Delft
Graphic design: Werkplaats Typografie Arnhem
Editor: Coosje Berkelbach Amsterdam