Horizons

Smart Wooden Construction and Circularity

With its innovative construction, Horizons sets a new standard for circular building. Whereas high-rises are traditionally made mostly of concrete, the Horizons tower is primarily built from wood. Instead of using heavy CLT floors, lightweight wooden cassette floors (Kerto Ripa) were chosen for the upper levels. This results in a significant weight reduction and a more efficient structure, requiring less material and enabling a lighter foundation. The choice of wood not only reduces CO₂ emissions but also simplifies future disassembly and reuse. Additionally, the substructure and core are constructed using Urban Mining Concrete, a circular concrete that reduces CO₂ emissions by 60 to 80% compared to conventional concrete. This innovative material significantly lowers the environmental impact and contributes to a more sustainable construction sector. In total, the building stores approximately 478 tons of CO₂, making Horizons carbon-neutral. Together with smart solutions for energy, waste, and water management, the building is a leading example of sustainable urban development.

Health and Residential Quality

Horizons is designed with a strong focus on quality of life. By offering a varied housing program, including mid-rent, owner-occupied, and live-work apartments, the project promotes social inclusion. Shared outdoor spaces, such as the courtyard garden and rooftop terraces on the fourth floor, enhance living comfort. These spaces provide areas for relaxation, social interaction, and recreation, while the green viewing terrace on the sixth floor contributes to the building’s natural experience. On the ground floor, commercial spaces activate the streetscape. The first floor combines residential and workspaces around a green atrium with seating areas and a Biomakery—a natural water purification system. This atrium serves as a welcoming entrance to the rest of the building, where residents can meet informally. From the second floor upwards, the layouts consist entirely of residential units.

Smart Water and Energy Management

At the heart of the atrium lies the building’s ecological engine: the Biomakery. This innovative system, a tank with subtropical water plants, purifies 50,000 to 150,000 liters of wastewater daily using patented MNR technology from Biopolus. Approximately 30% of the purified water is reused for toilet flushing, and 10% for washing machines. The remaining water is clean enough to be discharged as rainwater. The Biomakery even treats more wastewater than the building generates, making it possible to connect surrounding residential units. By placing this system prominently in the atrium, sustainability is made visible and tangible for residents.

Horizons is designed as an energy-positive building. Thanks to smart energy integration, it achieves a negative BENG 2 score, meaning it produces more energy than it consumes. PV panels are integrated into the canopies and facades, keeping rooftops free for green spaces and future urban parks. These custom-made, colored solar panels are not only functional but also aesthetic enhancements. By distributing the panels across the facades, energy production is optimized throughout the day, preventing grid overload during peak hours and offering financial benefits for residents.

Beyond solar energy and water purification, Horizons optimizes energy balance. In the future, the building may store and return energy, for example, to charge electric vehicles in the parking garage. Horizons exceeds environmental regulations and sets a new standard for healthy, circular architecture. By combining renewable energy solutions, insulation, and water reuse, it reduces living costs and contributes to a healthier urban environment.

Climate-Adaptive Design

Horizons is designed to combat heat stress and manage water effectively, creating a climate-resilient living environment. As cities experience increasing heat and drought, the building is designed to retain and absorb water during heavy rainfall, preventing uncontrolled water runoff into the city. With a 125,000-liter rainwater storage system, excess water is efficiently collected and reused, including for irrigating rooftop gardens. The rooftop gardens also help reduce heat stress and capture rainwater. Designed as nature gardens, they feature high-quality plantings and seating areas. A thick soil layer (over 80 cm) supports second-category trees, creating a lush, forest-like atmosphere in the courtyard. Additionally, the building provides nesting spots for birds and bats, enhancing biodiversity in the Sluisbuurt. The various green spaces act as stepping stones for wildlife, facilitating movement between urban green zones.

Horizons integrates seamlessly into the urban fabric of Sluisbuurt, which will soon house approximately 5,500 residences in a mix of low- and high-rise buildings. The slender tower atop a solid base ensures a balanced and distinctive presence in the neighborhood. Horizons is not just a sustainable residential building—it is a model for the future. It demonstrates that timber construction is highly versatile, not only for smaller projects but also for large-scale housing developments. 

"This is probably the most innovative wooden residential building in the Netherlands. Not just because of the material, but also due to the smart structural choices." - Paul de Ruiter