Waldorp Four
Largest prefab housing project in the Netherlands
Transforming Laakhaven into an Enticing New Urban District
The Laakhavens district in The Hague is undergoing an impressive transformation into a vibrant urban area, blending living, working, learning, and leisure. A key element of this transformation is The Waldorp Four, a large-scale development featuring four multifunctional residential towers located near The Hague Holland Spoor station and opposite the Megastores shopping center. Commissioned by Sustay, the project will deliver 1,171 affordable rental homes: 560 units for young urban professionals, 399 student apartments, and 212 social housing units. In addition to affordable housing, the development will include spaces for businesses and amenities such as shops, restaurants, and creative workspaces.
Spanning a total area of 75,285 m², Waldorp Four is one of the largest residential construction projects in The Hague. The design reinforces the ambition to transform Waldorpstraat into a dynamic hub where living, working, and relaxing come together, while also contributing to the accessibility of affordable housing in the city. The result will be a diverse and inclusive urban district.
Dynamic Urban Street
The Waldorp Four buildings are set on a long, stretched-out base structure measuring 300 meters, covering a significant portion of the Waldorpstraat. This base has a friendly, sustainable appearance, featuring full-glass facades and wooden slats with greenery. In addition to a bike storage facility and parking garage for residents, the base also offers commercial spaces, with half designated for dining establishments.
The three tallest towers each have 23 residential floors, while the fourth, shorter tower on the Calandstraat, has 14 floors. Between the four towers, three lower blocks with five-story residences are designed, creating an appealing blend of homes, shops, restaurants, cafés, and creative spaces.
This activity breathes new life into this challenging site, wedged between the railway and a busy road. The area, which in the 1990s earned a negative reputation as a red-light district, is now being transformed into a vibrant and attractive destination.
Healthy Urban Architecture
For transparency and optimal use of natural daylight, the front and rear façades of the towers are made of floor-to-ceiling glass. This design provides expansive views from all residences and enhances the vibrancy of the street. To meet BENG (Nearly Energy Neutral Buildings) requirements and sound insulation standards, the glass meets the highest levels of insulation performance. The sides of the towers are more enclosed, featuring vertical slats, which give the towers a slender appearance and create a striking visual impact in the urban context.
The roofs of the lower connecting blocks host spectacular rooftop gardens designed by landscape architects ZUS. The façades of the low-rise sections are covered with greenery. The abundance of greenery, including the rooftop gardens, vertical green façades, and moss-sedum roofs on the higher levels, not only provides pleasant outdoor spaces for residents but also contributes to urban biodiversity.
To ensure a consistent and comfortable indoor climate, the homes are equipped with a smart ventilation system with heat recovery. This is combined with low-temperature central heating generated through an aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) system. For domestic hot water, low-temperature technology is used, enhanced by a smart boost function provided by Schouten Techniek, backed by a BCRG equivalence declaration. Thanks to this integrated approach, the building delivers optimal energy performance.
Largest Prefab Unit Construction Project in the Netherlands
The construction site is a long, narrow strip squeezed between Waldorpstraat and the heavily trafficked railway tracks of Holland Spoor station. The location offers little room for a traditional construction site, and lifting over the railway is not permitted. To address these challenges, Waldorp Four is being built entirely with prefab units.
These units are fully manufactured in a factory, complete with façades and finishes, and delivered to the site just in time for assembly. This approach makes the project the largest and tallest prefab unit construction project in the Netherlands.
Project details
Gegevens
| Name and location | Waldorp Four, The Hague |
| Address | Waldorpstraat 101 t/m 145 |
| Project description | 1,175 apartments and commercial space |
Ontwerpteam
| Client | Sustay |
| Project team | Paul de Ruiter, Julius Klatte, Tom Padding, Christian Quesada van Beresteyn, Cederick Ingen-Housz |
| Contractor | Heddes Bouw & Ontwikkeling |
| Landscape architect | ZUS |
| E-installations | Schouten Techniek |
| WTB-installations | Schouten Techniek |
| Artist impressions | VERO |
