Brainport Smart District đź“Ť Helmond, the netherlands

Authors: Zarrin Fatima (VTT), Nayla Saniour (UPM), Maija Federley (VTT), updated by Charlotte Burnod (LGI Sustainable Innovation)

How can the Brainport Smart District balance innovation, affordability, and sustainability to create a future-proof living environment?

Brainport Smart District (BSD) is a pioneering smart city project located in Helmond, the Netherlands, designed to integrate cutting-edge innovations in participation, health, data, mobility, energy, and circularity. Initially envisioned as one of the smartest neighborhoods in the world, the project aimed to create a sustainable, technologically advanced district where residents co-create their living environment alongside professionals and other stakeholders. However, as of October 2023, the district is undergoing a strategic shift to focus more on affordable housing while maintaining a commitment to practical sustainability innovations, in response to rising costs and financial constraints.

Challenges addressed

The BSD project addresses several urban and environmental challenges:

  • Stakeholder/community engagement: Co-creation has been central to BSD’s development, with residents actively involved in shaping their living spaces.
  • Built environment: BSD aims to design a sustainable neighborhood that incorporates innovative green technologies and circular economy principles.
  • Mobility and transport: Emissions-free mobility solutions, including an electric car-sharing program, are integral to BSD’s vision of a sustainable transport system.
  • Green industry and circular economy: The district promotes circular economy practices and fosters innovation in green industries to ensure long-term sustainability.

Impact on climate neutrality

BSD was originally structured around eight program lines, each contributing to the district's goal of climate neutrality:

  • Circular district: Focused on minimizing waste and promoting the reuse of materials.
  • Participation: Involving residents in decision-making processes to encourage sustainable behavior.
  • Social and safe district: Ensuring social cohesion and safety for all residents.
  • Healthy district: Incorporating smart health technologies and green spaces.
  • Digital district: Using smart infrastructure and sensor networks to manage resources efficiently.
  • Mobile district: Developing sustainable, emissions-free mobility options.
  • District with energy: Integrating renewable energy systems.
  • District with water: Managing water resources sustainably.

While BSD’s development will now shift toward more practical innovations, it continues to prioritize sustainability. The district’s revised focus is on delivering affordable housing while incorporating socially and environmentally sustainable solutions. The target remains to build 2,000 homes, with 52 circular relocatable homes already completed and 23 self-build initiatives set to begin.

Developments as of October 2023

Due to financial challenges, including a significant rise in the projected land development deficit (from €35 million to a potential €67 million), the city of Helmond has announced a shift in BSD’s development strategy. The focus will now be on providing affordable housing while maintaining a commitment to sustainable practices. Additionally, innovation funding from the National Growth Fund was significantly lower than expected, with only €7.5 million secured out of the anticipated €20 million.

According to Alderman Arno Bonte, the new strategy will prioritize affordable, social, and sustainable housing, moving away from the original high-tech pilot project to a more grounded and financially feasible development.

Innovative approaches

Originally, BSD was conceived as a living lab where new technologies and ideas would be tested and adapted based on residents' needs. Some of the key innovative approaches that remain part of the project include:

  • Resident participation: Future inhabitants have been involved in shaping the district from the very beginning, contributing to both the social cohesion and physical development of the neighborhood.
  • Data-driven solutions: BSD incorporates smart technology into its infrastructure, including sensor networks that track energy use, mobility, and food consumption. These systems are designed to help residents make more sustainable choices, such as optimizing energy consumption and saving on utility costs.
  • Sustainable mobility: The district continues to test emissions-free transport solutions, such as an electric car-sharing program, to reduce its carbon footprint.
  • Flexible design: BSD’s original master plan, designed by UNStudio, remains flexible, allowing for continuous learning and adaptation based on the feedback and behaviors of the residents.

Key enablers

Several factors have supported the development of BSD and its shift towards affordability while maintaining sustainability:

  • Public-Private Partnership: The project’s foundation is built on a strong public-private partnership that includes the municipality of Helmond, Eindhoven University of Technology, Brainport Development, and other regional stakeholders. This collaboration enables resource pooling and access to diverse expertise.
  • Resident engagement: BSD’s co-creation model has empowered future residents to participate actively in the development process, fostering social cohesion and ensuring the community meets their needs.
  • Flexibility of design: The district’s flexible master plan allows for adjustments based on new learnings, innovations, and resident feedback, which has been critical in maintaining adaptability as financial and market conditions change.
  • Innovation culture: The region of Brainport, home to companies like Philips, Tesla, and ASML, has fostered a culture of innovation that continues to drive the project forward.

Key inhibiting factors

Several challenges have inhibited the realization of BSD’s full potential:

  • Financial constraints: The significant increase in land development costs and the shortfall in innovation funding (€7.5 million versus the expected €20 million) have required BSD to scale back its ambitious high-tech goals.
  • Housing market changes: Shifts in the housing market, including rising interest rates and demand for affordable housing, have forced BSD to prioritize more practical housing solutions over experimental innovations.
  • Uncertainty in execution: While the project was designed to be a living lab, the unpredictability of how innovations and technologies will be implemented and tested has led to cautious scaling back in some areas.
  • Complexity of stakeholder coordination: Balancing the diverse interests of private investors, public entities, and residents has been complex, especially given the evolving financial and market conditions.

Original vision and developments (pre-2023)

BSD’s initial vision, launched in 2021, was ambitious, aiming to create the world’s smartest neighborhood. The district, set on 380 acres, was designed to house 4,500 residents in low-rise, mixed-use buildings, with 20% of the dwellings designated as subsidized housing. Key features included:

  • Self-sufficiency: The district was designed to encourage self-sufficiency, with residents responsible for many aspects of their community’s development.
  • Technological integration: Smart infrastructure, including a network of sensors, was to be embedded into the district to monitor and optimize resource use, from energy and water to food and mobility.
  • Business challenges: The district sought input from companies and innovators through business challenges, which brought forward over 200 ideas for housing developments, products, and services.
  • One of the signature projects was the 100 Homes Project by UNSense, where homes were designed to easily adapt to climate change and evolving resident needs. Additionally, the Forty Plot Project invited residents to co-design housing concepts and contribute to the district's overall master plan.

Conclusion

The Brainport Smart District started as an ambitious project aiming to create one of the world's most innovative neighborhoods. However, rising costs and lower-than-expected innovation funding have forced the district to shift its focus toward more affordable, practical, and socially sustainable solutions. While some of the high-tech aspirations have been scaled back, the district remains committed to integrating sustainability into its design, aiming to build a community that serves the needs of its residents while ensuring environmental responsibility.

Images from Unsplash: The Hague (Nicolas Baster), bikes (Lien Van Win), plants (Artelle Creative).