Bouwinvest Healthcare Fund, Alphen aan den Rijn and Bébouw Midreth sign agreement for 120 care apartments in Bospark plan

The Bouwinvest Healthcare Fund has acquired 120 care apartments with communal areas in Alphen aan den Rijn from Bébouw Midreth, part of construction firm VolkerWessels. The Alphen aan den Rijn city council wanted to develop an innovative residential care complex in Bospark, a place where senior citizens with and without care needs can live side by side. The care and welfare concept encourages residents to actively look after each other, preventing loneliness and keeping residents healthy for longer. Ninety per cent of the homes will be rented in the mid-rental segment.

The Alphen aan den Rijn city council issued a tender for the project. Bébouw Midreth's tender was judged the best due to its high quality and innovative care concept. For the realisation of the Bospark plan, the Alphen aan den Rijn city council is selling its land holding on the Bosparkweg to enable the construction of homes for local elderly residents in the-mid rental market segment.

The alderman responsible for the plan, Gerard van As, said: “The signing of the purchase agreement with Bébouw Midreth brings us another step closer to realising the homes that are in great demand in Alphen aan den Rijn. We are proud that together we can realise an innovative residential care complex for this location.”

The homes will help foster a sense of community and offer the opportunity to live in one place for as long as possible, even with (intensive) care needs. The Living with Amare concept, an initiative of the Fundis welfare and care network, offers elderly people a pleasant setting in a community where people actively look after each other. Care and support are always nearby and flexible. The focus on meeting, exercise and fulfilment helps to promote self-reliance, and as a result residents need less care and/or support. Palet Welzijn B.V., working closely with the various Fundis care organisations, is responsible for providing community management within the project.

“This project provides a unique combination of modern living, well-being, self-reliance and care. This will enable elderly people with and without care needs to continue to live at home for longer,” said Guido Blom, director at Fundis.

A striking feature of the design of Bospark is the concept of ‘living streets’. These spacious galleries on the courtyard side of the plan promote encounters and a sense of community. The plan also includes the creation of communal spaces, such as a cooking studio, a ‘living room’, library and courtyard garden. It will also include a commercial space near the pond on Bosparkweg. Future residents and neighbourhood residents contributed ideas on the exact interpretation of these communal and commercial spaces during a walk-in evening.

Christian Schouten, Head of Dutch Transaction Management at Bouwinvest, emphasises the importance of this investment: “We have an ongoing investment challenge for residential, healthcare, retail, office and hotel real estate. We remain fully committed to doing the right things in the right places, with a long-term view. This project is an excellent example of our approach: sustainable and social.”

Sustainability is an important aspect in the Bospark project. The residential care complex will be a sustainable building with a low environmental footprint. It will use renewable energy sources, reusable materials and be fitted with PV panels. On top of this, efficient and low-energy ventilation will ensure a healthy living environment for residents.

The building was designed by Heren 5 Architecten, while RROG Stedenbouw en Landschap is involved as landscape architect. De Wijde Blik is responsible for the communication and participation process. In addition, Ruimtemaken is involved as concept developer. Bébouw Midreth is responsible for the development and realisation of the Bospark complex.

Het gebouw is een ontwerp van Heren 5 Architecten. RROG Stedenbouw en Landschap is betrokken als landschapsarchitect. Het communicatie- en participatietraject wordt verzorgd door De Wijde Blik. Daarnaast is Ruimtemaken betrokken als conceptontwikkelaar. Bébouw Midreth is verantwoordelijk voor de ontwikkeling en realisatie van Bospark.