GWL Terrein, Amsterdam
GWL Terrein is a 591 apartment development, 3km from the centre of Amsterdam, completed in 1998. It occupies just 6 hectares, representing a gross density of 100 dph – roughly double that of Vauban. The interior of the site is entirely closed to motor vehicles. 135 parking spaces have been provided on one side of the development: 0.23 per dwelling (Bouvier). The surrounding area is covered by the equivalent of a Controlled Parking Zone, with GWL residents ineligible for residents' parking permits.
Like Vauban, it is connected to the tram network, but walking and cycling make up a far higher proportion (73%) of journeys than public transport (17%).2
The site incorporates a number of non-residential uses including a café and a TV studio which have helped to improve the cachet of the development, despite its fairly uninspiring architecture.
Scheurer found a similar demographic profile to Vauban, with 'knowledge economy' professionals disproportionately represented. The average household size of 2.32 is lower than Vauban, but still significantly higher than the average for the district. 42% of households had children under 18. Like Vauban, the development also has a range of ecological objectives, including energy efficiency and water conservation. A third of residents surveyed cited these as a reason for moving there.