Estate Kraaiveld is located in the rural area between Sleeuwijk and Woudrichem and forms a unique place where nature, care, education, and food production come together. The site includes a farm with a picking garden, greenhouse, tea garden, and farm shop. The farm offers daytime activities and residential spaces for (young) adults with mild intellectual disabilities. The owner aims to gradually develop the estate into a Healthy Lifestyle Center: a place where visitors can experience how healthy food, physical activity, and mental balance contribute to a sustainable lifestyle.
Studio Marco Vermeulen has conducted a design exploration for the future spatial layout of the estate. Central to this vision is the visible closing of cycles of energy, water, food, and materials. Through an integrated approach, the area evolves into a balanced environment between people and landscape, with a strong focus on health and sustainability. The various functions—such as circular agriculture, a knowledge and experience center, recreational facilities, and care apartments—complement and reinforce one another.
Studio Marco Vermeulen has conducted a design exploration for the future spatial layout of the estate. Central to this vision is the visible closing of cycles of energy, water, food, and materials. Through an integrated approach, the area evolves into a balanced environment between people and landscape, with a strong focus on health and sustainability. The various functions—such as circular agriculture, a knowledge and experience center, recreational facilities, and care apartments—complement and reinforce one another.
2024
Design Exploration
client
HLC Landgoed Kraaiveld, Gemeente Altena, Willem Groeneveld
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Food as Inspiration for a Healthier Lifestyle
The estate offers space for education and experience, where scientific insights, circular agriculture, and personal development come together. The Experience Center forms the heart of the estate, where visitors can discover the effects of healthy nutrition, physical activity, and mental balance. Through exhibitions, workshops, and hands-on applications, knowledge is shared about the benefits of healthy habits. The focus lies on promoting a healthy lifestyle, supported by innovative circular agriculture and the development of new sustainable production systems.
The estate also offers various facilities, including an organic restaurant, practice rooms for healthcare professionals, eco-chalets for sustainable overnight stays, and multifunctional work and education spaces. Outside, visitors will find a food forest, herb gardens, and walking paths that invite rest and movement in nature.
A wide audience is drawn to the estate—from individuals seeking to improve their health to companies and healthcare professionals aiming to contribute to a healthier future. It is a place for education, reflection, innovation, and collaboration.
The estate also offers various facilities, including an organic restaurant, practice rooms for healthcare professionals, eco-chalets for sustainable overnight stays, and multifunctional work and education spaces. Outside, visitors will find a food forest, herb gardens, and walking paths that invite rest and movement in nature.
A wide audience is drawn to the estate—from individuals seeking to improve their health to companies and healthcare professionals aiming to contribute to a healthier future. It is a place for education, reflection, innovation, and collaboration.
Spatial Design
The spatial design for Estate Kraaiveld utilizes the entire area along the liniewal and the grounds west of the existing farm. The lands east of Notenlaan remain open for large-scale agriculture, and the current care farm retains its function. The new development unfolds as a series of open spaces in the landscape, connected by winding paths. This creates an experience route where healthy movement, education, and relaxation naturally come together.
Visitors enter the estate through a dedicated entrance, leave their cars at the edge of the site, and begin their journey on foot through a food forest full of surprises. The program is organized around circular open spaces that include buildings and thematic gardens. This layout ensures a gentle transition between the existing care program and the new functions. The regional farm shop is strategically positioned at the start of the route, allowing for easy access even during brief visits.
From the liniewal, the landscape opens up and gradually changes character: drier and more open at the edge, becoming wetter and more densely vegetated toward the food forest. This presence of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie is not only made tangible but also forms the backbone of the new estate.
Visitors enter the estate through a dedicated entrance, leave their cars at the edge of the site, and begin their journey on foot through a food forest full of surprises. The program is organized around circular open spaces that include buildings and thematic gardens. This layout ensures a gentle transition between the existing care program and the new functions. The regional farm shop is strategically positioned at the start of the route, allowing for easy access even during brief visits.
From the liniewal, the landscape opens up and gradually changes character: drier and more open at the edge, becoming wetter and more densely vegetated toward the food forest. This presence of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie is not only made tangible but also forms the backbone of the new estate.
Rewetting and Greening
A part of Estate Kraaiveld will be excavated to create more space for water storage. This allows the soil and crops to benefit from the stored water during dry periods, contributing to healthy and resilient agriculture. At the same time, this creates a more diverse landscape with new ecological and recreational opportunities.
The rewetted area serves a dual purpose. On one hand, a portion is designed as a natural playground where children can play with water in a natural way while learning about its value and function. On the other hand, a part southeast of the meeting room is used as a helophyte filter. This natural water purification system filters wastewater, allowing it to be reused for, for example, shower facilities and agriculture.
Around the wet area and the food gardens, a food forest will emerge. This productive form of nature provides an important boost to biodiversity and creates a more varied landscape than the current clear-cut forest. Visitors can discover how healthy food grows in nature and participate in workshops where they harvest and learn to cook with their own ingredients.
The rewetted area serves a dual purpose. On one hand, a portion is designed as a natural playground where children can play with water in a natural way while learning about its value and function. On the other hand, a part southeast of the meeting room is used as a helophyte filter. This natural water purification system filters wastewater, allowing it to be reused for, for example, shower facilities and agriculture.
Around the wet area and the food gardens, a food forest will emerge. This productive form of nature provides an important boost to biodiversity and creates a more varied landscape than the current clear-cut forest. Visitors can discover how healthy food grows in nature and participate in workshops where they harvest and learn to cook with their own ingredients.
