Wood will be the primary building material throughout The Erven, a new residential development in the Netherlands designed by Swedish studio White Arkitekter, which is responsible for several of the project’s buildings.

Located in the southeast part of Hoofddorp, a town just outside Amsterdam, The Erven will deliver 519 homes within a series of structures inspired by traditional Dutch farmsteads.

The scheme is being developed by White Arkitekter in collaboration with SeArch, Space&Matter, and Atlas Architects, for local developers Timpaan and Blauwhoed. Landscape design is by DS Landschaps Architecten.

The development takes its name from its four central courtyards, or “erven,” each of which will feature a distinct design and be open for communal use by residents and the wider community.

The housing blocks will be organized around these courtyards, each with a unique façade, and are designed to evoke the atmosphere of traditional Dutch farm complexes.

“The project is a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Dutch farmstead, drawing inspiration from the historic farmyards that once lined the Hoofvaart road north of the site,” explained lead architect Oskar Norelius.

“This reference to the farmyard typology was central to the design from the very beginning,” Norelius continued.

“With building heights and roof angles carefully regulated to maximize solar photovoltaic potential, façade design became our main tool for creating architectural diversity,” he said.

“Each courtyard’s distinctive character—reflected in its name and material palette—offers a unique atmosphere, collectively enriching the identity of the entire neighborhood.”

The Erven is set to be constructed in two phases: the first beginning in 2027 and the second in 2028. Each phase is expected to take two years, with the first residents moving in by 2029.

White Arkitekter has stated that a significant proportion of the homes will be offered at affordable prices.

The majority of The Erven’s construction will use wood, employing a