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In Utrecht, a new urban district is rising on the former railway shunting yard. This district has a clear mission: to enable people to live happily and healthily together for longer. The Cartesius inner-city area development, developed by the Cartesius Consortium MRP and Ballast Nedam Development, translates the scientific Blue Zones principles (living environments in which people demonstrably grow older and healthier) to the Dutch city. This starts with the choice of the right materials and products, for example, for the bathrooms and toilets.
In many housing projects, the conscious choice of type of plumbing is not included in the development, notes marketing and communications manager Marja van Reijn of MRP. “Because we think the quality of the finish is important, you have to think about this early on. That way you can do serious work on health and quality. The bathroom and kitchen are central places in the home; they directly influence how people live.”
Duravit was chosen for the plumbing in both owner-occupied and rental homes in the Nicoya subarea. A collaboration that goes beyond supplying products, says Van Reijn: “With the choices we make, we want to influence residents in a positive way. We want to help residents live more consciously, including in daily routines such as water use. Even the choice of plumbing can contribute to behavioral change. We chose Duravit because they share that vision and think along with us.”
Project manager Vince Hoogenraad of Duravit Netherlands calls Cartesius “a special example of integral sustainable thinking.” Plumbing packages have been put together for each housing type in which sustainability is the starting point. “Whether it's ceramics, furniture, faucets or showers, sustainability is the lifeblood in every price range. Together with the Cartesius Consortium, we looked at what really suits the ambitions of the project.”
The choice of design series such as Duravit Starck, combined with Cradle-to-Cradle tiling from Mosa, underlines that aesthetics and circularity also go hand in hand. Buyers can compile their preferences through a digital platform provided by the installer, making the process transparent and efficient.
An integral part of the package are the so-called Fresh Start taps. These supply hot water only when the lever is deliberately turned to the left. “This prevents the hot water system from turning on unnecessarily and prevents waste. This creates awareness among residents, without compromising on comfort,” says Hoogenraad. The MinusFlow technology (maximum experience with minimum water consumption) and ceramics that last for decades with normal use also contribute to the sustainable life cycle of the homes.
Project Cartesius serves as a testing ground for new forms of housing and technologies. For example, shower toilets (already standard elsewhere in the world) are being actively promoted here in the Cartesius Experience Center. “That fits with Cartesius” broader sustainability philosophy,“ Hoogenraad says. ”It reduces paper use and increases comfort. This applies to all users, but in the long run these toilets may also allow people to continue living at home for longer."
Van Reijn sees in Cartesius especially the power of collaboration and innovation. “We are not only building a new city district, but also gaining knowledge through research on how to connect health, sustainability and behavior. By collaborating with partners like Duravit, we are putting new insights into practice. That's what makes this project so valuable: here we learn what future-proof living really means.”
Cartesius has about 3,000 homes and will be realized in phases. Part of it has already been sold, the next building sections are in preparation. The project is being developed by the Cartesius Consortium MRP and Ballast Nedam Development in cooperation with the Municipality of Utrecht and NS Stations. Duravit will supply the sanitaryware for both the owner-occupied and rental homes in various sub-areas. The Artist Impressions accompanying this article are property of the Cartesius Consortium and cannot be used without permission.
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