Durability and comfort

In OAK, you live in one of the Netherlands' most sustainable and healthiest neighborhoods. Living here means making conscious and future-oriented choices and living in an innovative home of the future. For yourself, your family, and generations to come. A home that contributes to a better environment, less CO² emissions, and has a healthy indoor climate.

Curious about how these sustainable applications incorporate into the project? Then read on quickly.

Energy neutral and natural gas free

The homes in OAK are energy neutral. On an average annual basis, your home does not require any electricity from the electricity grid, because of the outstanding insulation and solar panels. All homes in Meerhoven are connected to a local and sustainable heat source. So, you do not have to worry about the high gas prices. There are solar panels on all roofs and there is also space left for green roofs, which stimulates biodiversity, and there is room for rainwater collection.

Healthy and comfortable living

For a healthy indoor climate, the houses come with high insulation values, high airtightness, good ventilation, and a lot of daylight through the large windows. The triple glazing keeps the heat out and the balanced ventilation with heat recovery and CO² control ensures that you do not have to bother about the outside noises, and it limits the energy requirement of your home.

The seasons and nature are immediately tangible because the houses are connected to the landscape through the outdoor rooms and pergolas. Various cooling measures are applied so that the homes do not become too hot. Such as sun protection and green roofs. Shade and cooling are created in the communal outdoor area by planting new trees. The height and location of the trees are coordinated with the location of the solar panels on the roofs. Behind all this innovative ingenuity lies a wonderfully comfortable and healthy home with a unique and warm appearance.

Natural and circular materials

We have made conscious material choices for the homes in OAK, which are less harmful to the environment, circular, and detachable. Future concepts that might make your ears pop. Below we explain it briefly.

The houses in OAK are from wood from sustainably managed forests. The first floor is from sustainable/circular concrete. For the other (finishing) materials, we use certified and/or recycled materials. The houses are 95% factory made. The modules that are built in the factory are equipped with installations, finishing, and possibly sanitary facilities. On request, the kitchen can be factory built in. As a buyer, you can take a unique look at the Barli factory, where you can see this special building process with your own eyes. We install the installations in the homes as detachable as possible so that they can be reused in the future. The modules that are ready-made in the factory, will be mounted on location in no time, just like Lego bricks. As a result, the environment and nature experience as little nuisance as possible from the construction of OAK.

Water Saving and Retention

Water plays a key role within OAK. We apply a drainage layer on the green roofs of the houses to collect, buffer and delay the rainwater. This also cools the homes during hot days. The water eventually drains to wadis in the communal green garden. Which creates beautiful green-blue spaces, an enrichment of the landscape. A special element is a hill with a water bowl in the courtyard of the large residential block. Here, we store a part of the collected rainwater in a large underground water tank to water the garden during dry periods. In this way, we combine a beautifully designed element with the need to collect, retain and use the rainwater.

Biodiversity

Nature inclusive is one of the main themes within OAK. This means that we not only want to realize a beautiful new residential area, but that nature is also important in the plan. In the communal outdoor area, for example, we apply as little surfacing as possible and make maximum use of greenery. We plant different native plants and trees and combine this with flower-rich grassland to create a natural landscape. A perfect habitat for birds, bats, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. The green roofs are also attractive for birds and insects, and we make nesting boxes in the facades in various places so that they also have a house. By applying green pergolas with (climbing) plants, we bring nature inside. A nice living environment for people and animals!

Mobility

In OAK we encourage walking and cycling. This is healthy and better for the environment. By making the homes easily accessible and designed in the public area in such a way that it invites you to leave the car. An attractive area for pedestrians and cyclists. OAK connects directly to the walking network along the ecological zone of Meerhoven. Perfect for a walk with the dog or a nice stroll with the whole family. In no time, you can reach the facilities that Meerhoven has to offer by bike.

Within OAK, car users and cyclists partly park under the houses to provide space for pedestrians, playing children, and nature. Therefore, the cars are nicely out of sight. The neighborhood will receive 10 electric shared bicycles. With a partner, We Drive Solar, two electric share cars will be available for 3 years. OAK residents will receive a free introductory offer for a 4-hour journey bundle and 50 km per home per month. Half of the parking spaces belonging to the homes are being prepared for the future construction of electric car charging points. Transport is therefore good within OAK, prepared for the future.