GROW Rises as Utrecht's Climate-Resilient Green Oasis
The blueprint for a future-proof ensemble: a lively place to live, work and recreate
[Utrecht, the Netherlands]: GROW is where architectural ambition meets sustainable living. Shaped by 18 different designs from architects across KCAP, Monk, and Studio Nauta, this car-free urban district along the Merwedekanaal transforms into a thriving community. With 575 homes, diverse amenities, and office spaces woven together around a central neighborhood park, GROW creates a truly mixed-use neighborhood where over 1,000 people will live and work. Built with circular materials, rainwater systems, and nature-inclusive design, GROW isn't just another development—it's a blueprint for how cities can grow sustainably without sacrificing vitality or human connection.
Project Highlights
- 18 Architects, 18 Designs – A unique collaborative model where each building has its own distinctive architectural concept, creating a richly layered ensemble while maintaining cohesion through human-scale design principles.
- Sustainable from the Ground Up – A car-free neighbourhood, circular materials, CO2-optimized design, and nature-inclusive planning that promotes biodiversity while reducing heat stress through rainwater management.
- Vibrant Mixed-Use Community – 575 homes, 10,000m² of diverse amenities ), plus office and creative workspace—all supporting 1,000+ residents and 400+ workers in one neighbourhood.
- Human Scale at Every Level – Richly detailed plinths, recognizable entrances, careful public-private transitions, and lively programming create dynamic gathering spaces that foster genuine community life.
- Future-Proof Design – Efficient layouts with large spans promote flexibility and adaptability, ensuring GROW remains relevant and resilient for generations to come.
Urban planning and architecture
KCAP developed the urban design elaboration for 4 city blocks within Bura's master plan. For the GROW city block, KCAP also realized the architecture: a vibrant ensemble with a diverse mix of living, working, and amenities.
Merwede's key ambitions have been translated into the city block: community, circular, energy-conscious, sustainably mobile, and nature-inclusive. These pillars are reflected in all layers of the plan: from urban planning and landscape to architecture, from the distribution of diverse program components to the creation of special buildings and places.
A vibrant urban district
KCAP gives shape to the idea of the 'Vibrant Urban District' with a diverse mix of functions that generate liveliness and activity at any time of day. With 575 homes in all categories and more than 10,000m² of additional diverse amenity programs, GROW is a 'community' in itself. More than 1,000 people will live here and over 400 people will work here. GROW consists of a fine-grained building structure with a clearly readable composition: plinth, middle section, and setback with roof gardens of various sizes around an accessible and permeable courtyard that functions as a neighborhood park.
Architectural diversity
The GROW city block consists of an ensemble of 18 different buildings, designed by 18 different architects from the firms KCAP, Monk, and Studio Nauta. By defining distinctive architectural concepts for each building, GROW has a rich architectural appearance with recognizable buildings.
The human scale is leading for the appearance and experience at eye level. Richly detailed plinths, recognizable entrances, careful public-private transitions, and lively programming give identity and richness to the buildings and the whole. The diverse functions that generate liveliness and activity at any time of day result in a dynamic place where different functions come together and people can meet.
Sustainability in all layers
GROW is a highly sustainable building ensemble. During the design process, the various choices were integrally weighed against each other to arrive at a sustainable design. Merwede's high ambitions in the area of energy generation and use, material use, and circularity are amply met.
An efficient layout with large spans leads to optimization in construction and promotes flexibility and future-proofing. The use of circular concrete and circular facade infills result in a very low MPG (Environmental Performance of Buildings). Particularly noteworthy is the application of a CO2 tool which has led to further optimization of sustainability aspects.
Car-free and healthy mobility
Merwede's ground level is designed to be car-free and green. Healthy mobility in the form of slow traffic and the use of public transport are encouraged. This makes a very low parking standard possible with concentrated parking facilities. GROW houses one of the parking hubs that serves multiple blocks.
Green and climate-resilient
The proportion of greenery at ground level, facades, and roofs has been maximized. The neighborhood park in the city block, designed by Flux landscape architecture, is a green urban oasis of Merwede. This attractive green living environment results in a nature-inclusive plan that offers space for flora and fauna and thus promotes the city's biodiversity. Rainwater is collected and used as a water buffer for the neighborhood park and green roofs. The retention and delayed drainage of rainwater has a cooling effect on the city block and thus reduces heat stress.
GROW is therefore a highly future-proof ensemble, a lively inclusive place to live, work, and recreate, but also a climate-resilient green oasis.
Project Team
Client: Synchroon, AM Gebiedsontwikkeling
Project Partners: Gemeente Utrecht, Woonin, Achmea Real Estate, PME pensioenfonds
Architects: KCAP, MONK architecten, Studio Nauta
Urban Design: BURA
Landscape Architects: Flux landscape architecture
Project Advisors: Van Rossum Raadgevende Ingenieurs BV, Techniplan Adviseurs
Contractor: Van Wijnen
Renders: PLAY-TIME Barcelona
Project Visualizations
About KCAP
KCAP is a leading international design practice specializing in architecture, urbanism, and landscape architecture. Founded in 1989 by Kees Christiaanse, the firm is today led by seven partners — Xavier Blaringhem, Jeroen Dirckx, Ruurd Gietema, Anouk Kuitenbrouwer, Irma van Oort, Ute Schneider, and Edward Schuurmans. From its offices in Rotterdam, Zurich, and Paris, KCAP’s team of over 100 international professionals works on a diverse portfolio of projects across Europe and Asia, shaping sustainable, human-centered environments at every scale.
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