Dutch landscape architects West 8 are to develop a 17th century Dutch country estate and royal residence in Soestdijk, it has been announced today (9 June). The Netherlands’ minister of the interior, Roland Plasterk, has revealed that business consortium Made in Holland have succeeded in the bidding war to purchase and redevelop the palace and gardens of Soestdijk Palace. The group wants to transform the historic site into “a platform

Dutch architecture and design studio Concrete have “broken down the walls” of the clubhouse concept to create an open and transformable park on the rooftop of one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive new residential towers. The 26 storey Skypark tower is located among the bustling streets of Mong Kok – one of the densest areas of Hong Kong. Concrete were responsible for designing all the building’s communal areas, from the

A technology-focused real estate development company that’s creating a new model for self-sustaining wellness communities has launched a pilot 'ReGen Village' in the Netherlands. Located in Almere, the development, designed by Danish architects EFFEKT, includes 300 homes that will grow their own food and generate their own power on-site. Other ReGen developments are also being considered in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany and Belgium. The idea for the communities is to

The Delta Development Group has signed an initial agreement to drive forward plans for a Dutch-inspired theme park and leisure destination near Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The scope of the project has also widened to include plans for on-site hotels providing up to 4,000 rooms. Delta signed the deal with the City of Haarlemmermeer, a large suburb south of Amsterdam and the municipality where Schiphol Airport is located. Concept drawings

The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the first Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant outside of the Americas will open in the first quarter of 2017, featuring “a house within a hotel” for private groups. Amsterdam is the location for the hotel, with architects Kentie en Partners and design firm Michaelis Boyd Associates appointed to renovate and refurbish three original Renaissance-era buildings located close to the city’s central station. When finished,

A Dutch design agency is developing a new solution to moving vertically between floors in a building: a system that relies on “vertical walking.” The Rombout Frieling Lab has created a prototype for a new technology called Vertiwalk that makes it easier for the ageing population and people with disabilities to move vertically between floors. This “smart staircase” features vertical rails and a gripping system and is operated without the

Dutch construction firm Bright Buildings is creating a transparent swimming facility with a retractable roof and walls that will produce "an attractive transition from indoor to outdoor activities.” The company, which specialises in building “daylight structures”, is building the new 1,000sq m (10,000sq ft) health and swimming complex for Dutch holiday park Eiland van Maurik. The park’s operators want to encourage more guests to use its pool facility, and to

Dutch architecture studio Concrete have helped design their own restaurant brand inspired by Asian street food and nightlife. Restaurant group IQ creative – which also worked with Concrete on their Supperclub bar and eatery – and celebrity chef Julian Jaspers commissioned the studio to design the concept, interior design and graphic identity of the chain, called happyhappyjoyjoy. The second restaurant has just opened in Amsterdam on Oostelijke Handelskade street, neighbouring

Dutch exhibition designers Kossmann.dejong have created a show celebrating the “spectacular” interior designs of the Amsterdam School of architecture in the early 20th century. The exhibition, called Living in the Amsterdam School: Designing for the Interior 1910-1930, will open in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam tomorrow (9 April). The Amsterdam School – which grew out of international Expressionist architecture – is famous internationally for the progressive buildings its followers produced,

Plans to build a futuristic integrated wind turbine, hotel and tourist attraction in Rotterdam have taken a step forward after 11 companies from the worlds of construction, sustainable design, research, innovation and energy reached an agreement to develop the project. The Dutch Windwheel is envisioned as a 174m (571ft) structure comprised of two giant rings leaning against each other. The outer ring would house 40 pods on moving rails, providing

An abandoned, bomb-damaged dockland warehouse in the Dutch city Den Helder has been transformed into a concert hall, art centre and restaurant by architects Van Dongen-Koschuch. The Kampanje, located in the city’s old Willemsoord naval yard, had sat empty for more than 70 years since being partially destroyed during the Second World War. Now it has been carefully restored and renovated by the studio to create a new cultural landmark

Details have emerged about a new luxury man-made private island, which can give owners a secluded taste of paradise almost anywhere in the world. Dutch company Amillarah Private Islands has created the concept with architect Koen Olthuis and floating technology specialists Dutch Docklands. The islands will be sold to wealthy buyers by Christie’s International Real Estate. “Various studies conducted by different well-established institutions show that the trend in ultra-luxury real

Work will soon begin on the creation of a public art depot in Rotterdam allowing visitors to explore behind the scenes at one of Europe’s largest art galleries. The Collectiegebouw will store 75,000 European art works belonging to the city’s Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. While art depots typically hide unexhibited collections from view, visitors here will be able to witness a hive of backstage activity. Restoration, maintenance and transportation of

Next Architects have opened a new bridge that doubles as a habitat for local bats in a Dutch town called Monster, part of a green regeneration to bring nature to the waterway. As well as allowing locals to cross the meandering Vlotwaterling River, the 25m (82ft) concrete and wooden structure is also fitted with grooves on its underside that act as an ideal roosting place for the bats. The company’s

Architects MVRDV have been chosen to create a new Cultural Cluster in Zaanstad city in the Netherlands, following a design competition. The Zaandstad Cultural Cluster is part of Dutch architect Sjoerd Soeters' urban plan designed to add local character to the inner city with a ‘new Zaan style’, drawing inspiration from traditional Dutch architecture. The 7,500sq m (80,729sq ft) Cultural Cluster will house local cultural institutions, each represented by a

The town of Spijkenisse in southwest Holland is now home to a new theatre designed by Ben van Berkel, UNStudio’s founding architect. The Theatre de Stoep is designed to consider the two contrasting facets of the theatre archetype, as a place of wonder and illusion at the same time as being a place of community and social interaction. The theatre boasts progressive shapes and smooth curves typical of UNStudio’s work.

Image: London's citizenM is located in Bankside Netherlands-based hotel company citizenM has announced that its first property in London, UK will open on 4 July - in time for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 192-bedroom hotel is in Bankside, the area located near sites such as the Globe theatre and the Tate Modern art attraction, and is designed to meet the needs of "modern tourists". citizenM has worked