Brainport Smart District

2018

The urban vision for the Brainport Smart District (BSD) in Helmond, Netherlands, introduces a flexible and sustainable framework for "The Smartest Neighbourhood in the World." Spanning 155 hectares, the district will feature 1,500 homes, 12 hectares of business premises, and a central park, integrating circularity, social cohesion, and cutting-edge technologies. Unlike traditional developments, BSD will evolve step-by-step based on user demand, creating a living lab where residents and businesses collaborate on shared energy, food production, and innovative transport systems.

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The masterplan divides the site into ten zones with varying urban and landscape densities, fostering a mix of living, working, and leisure. A shared central park serves as the social heart, while the district promotes communal resource schemes and local economic initiatives under the "Made in BSD" concept. Sustainability and circularity are embedded in the design, addressing materials, energy, biodiversity, and human health. Additionally, UNSense’s "100 Houses" project will explore data ownership and its potential to improve urban living, creating a testbed for alternative economic models and ethical data use.