DASH The Woonerf Today

With its recognizable structures, informal surrounding spaces, special traffic rules and widespread application, the concept of the woonerf or ‘home zone’ came to prominence in the Netherlands in the 1960s and ’70s. It represents one of the most characteristic concepts with regard to the design of residential areas and has become firmly rooted socially. The underlying themes of the woonerf – small-scale collectivism, greenery and ecological patterns along with the connection between outdoor spaces, the car and the home – are still essential components of the modern-day building assignment. Abroad, the concept of the ‘home zone’ is synonymous with pedestrian-friendly residential districts with small-scale architecture. The central question in this new issue of DASH is whether the woonerf is still useful as a template for smallscale and informal forms of urbanization. The essays and analytical contributions examine the spatial and social aspects of living in the collective space of a home zone. Extensive documentation presents a broad range of inspiring solutions in the Netherlands and abroad from the recent and more distant past, with projects by Vandkunsten, Onix, Verhoeven, Zuiderhoek, Välikangas, Persson, Lyons and others.