From office area to circular urban neighborhood on the Zwarte Water
In the city center of Zwolle, at the hinge point of the canal, the Zwarte Water, and the Dieze, lies the Roelen Quarter. Employment formed the basis of the area, which has reinvented itself several times and has long been of cultural, historical, and economic significance for Zwolle.
Project info
Status
In development
Size
115.000 m2 GFO
From 1600 onwards, the Zwarte Water served as the main entrance to the Hanseatic city as a navigable route. Shipyards and carpentry workshops formed a solid foundation for the young industrial city from the beginning of the twentieth century. Transshipment functions then logically connected to the infrastructure that was built in the 1960s. Thanks to the good accessibility and the location close to the center, a series of office buildings subsequently emerged, which still provide space for Zwolle as a service city today.
Since 2025, Mei has been working, on behalf of the owners’ coalition, on a future-proof area transformation in which strategic densification goes hand in hand with the preservation of existing buildings and work functions. The arrival of a new Central Hub creates space for a climate-resilient plan, in which new urban greenery forms the green base for approximately 550 homes.
The ground level is being redistributed, organized, and returned to the public domain, with a strong focus on people instead of cars. Walking and wandering become natural and comfortable through a series of green-urban spaces that connect neighborhood spots, where vitality and health are central. Intimate city courtyards and collective inner gardens provide a surprising variety and encourage community building. Small-scale residential and work buildings are carefully interspersed with larger existing and new buildings. This creates an ensemble in which old and new, living and working, small scale and urbanity, greenery and circularity come together in a new identity for the area.
The Stadswerven
the southern part of the Roelenkwartier, restore the contact with the water and return an undiscovered area to the city. A floating pontoon park connects the Centrumhub to the historic city center in an inspiring way. The new wharf tower marks the location and provides space for attractive hospitality. Neighborhood initiatives are welcome, and the quay invites residents, entrepreneurs, students, and visitors of the city to spontaneous encounters and recreational use.
The Stadskwartier
The northern Stadskwartier is connected to the Dieze. Within the green framework, neighborhood spots of significance are provided for both new residents and the existing district. The mix of open spaces and narrower passages creates a surprising environment in which walking and cycling are enjoyable. Existing and new buildings together give a sense of human scale at eye level, which is essential for a highly urban environment. With subtly rising heights, light, air, and sun exposure are managed, and as many residents as possible get a view of the Peperbus.
Mei draws up the urban planning plan and visual quality plan for the ROP (Spatial Development Plan) and works closely with CULD and the municipality of Zwolle. Completion of the Spatial Development Plan is expected around mid-2026.
