Courtyard living, Enschede
A biodiverse wadi as the boundary between private and shared courtyard
A shared courtyard: a neatly framed lawn bordered by lush wadi swales planted with abundant native vegetation. These flowering zones functionally and spatially separate the communal lawn and terrace from the generous private terraces. Marnix—the architect—designed homes that are wider than they are deep, allowing plenty of daylight to flood in and leaving more space for gardens. Residents’ parking is also integrated into the courtyard, with permeable ground for water infiltration, edged by hedges and enriched with birch trees. So no standard back gardens or cars parked out front, but lively residential streets and living alongside a shared, spacious, biodiverse landscape. Together, you have more.
Sleek, recessed areas with attractive, native vegetation that looks good year-round and can cope with a splash of water
Rainwater falling on the homes infiltrates into the rectangular wadi that—like a kind, friendly moat—encloses the shared inner courtyard. An overflow to the municipal wadi in the public realm ensures it never fills up completely. The wadi swales themselves are clean-lined, sunken zones, crossed by wooden boardwalks that connect the courtyard to the back gardens. Planting includes ferns, sedges and grasses, along with a variety of flowering native plants. The alders, birches and serviceberry shrubs enhance the spatial quality of the wadi. A shared deck at the head of the lawn is where neighbors gather—around the picnic table, beneath the cherry trees.
