Reveal of luxurious residential building Mares
The scale model of the luxury residential building Mares in The Hague by the sea was unveiled during the Masters Expo at the RAI in Amsterdam in the presence of developers MRP and VORM and the Danish architect 3XN. Mares will house around 100 luxury apartments and high-end penthouses ranging from 90m² to 350m² in a unique location directly on the beach Zuiderstrand, the dunes and the Third Harbour at Scheveningen. Watch here the aftermovie.
From left to right Marja van Reijn (MRP), Jim Reerink (Netherlands Sotheby’s International Realty), Rudi van Wechem (Frisia Makelaars), Daan van der Vorm (VORM), Ofer Gilboa (MRP), Jeroen van Lier (VORM). Christiaan Veddeler (3XN), Jozien Timmers (MRP). Fotograaf Damon Rigter, Rigter Creatives
Residential pleasure and nature captured in an iconic residential building
Mares is part of area development DE ZUID on the Third Harbour in The Hague by the sea, where a luxury living environment is being realised in cooperation with the municipality of The Hague. With the realisation of Mares, designed by the internationally renowned Copenhagen-based architecture firm 3XN, the development of DE ZUID is nearing completion. Bart Meijer, CEO MRP: "Literally all the good things come together in Mares. The free location on Westduinpark, the harbour at Scheveningen and the beach call for an all-sided approach and an iconic look." This place will soon form an attractive link between New Kijkduin and Noordwijk aan Zee. This is how we contribute to an even more beautiful Dutch coast and add value to the city, for the people who live there and for the people who visit the place."
The inspiration for the building is drawn from the site’s topography, with a terraced design that references the soft and poetic character of the surrounding dunes. As a subtle and light structure, the scale of the building mirrors its existing neighbours with a height of five floors on the landside and six floors towards the ocean. The central courtyard extends the rugged dune landscape into the building as an open, green space. With the ambition of connecting residents to the surroundings, the building’s massing steps down in the middle to create a variety of private terraces at different levels. This opens for unobstructed oceanviews while optimizing daylight conditions for the southern residential units and the courtyard.
The valley in the massing also serves to accommodate the dominant wind from southwest, which can pass through the building rather than being deflected onto balconies, terraces, or the street below. The soft corners of the building ensure an aerodynamic form that gently guides the wind around. Spacious sliding doors are included in the facades for an optimal experience between inside and outside. The architect has designed Mares in such a way that there are beautiful views of the surroundings from all residences, with the sun and light penetrating deep into the building. Stig Gothelf, senior partner 3XN Architects from Copenhagen: “The unique, soft elements of the site’s placement within the dunes gradually transition to reflect the ruggedness of the harbor through the rounded shapes of the terraces and the 'industrial base' of the building. Mares is designed to reflect its surroundings and create a sense of wellness, both via sustainability strategies (both environmental and social) and through biophilic principles. Mares is an iconic building, but a soft one, designed to support its residents and honor its surroundings.”
Luxury living in a sustainable way
Mares is sustainable by design and engineering. The materials used to build Mares are highly resistant to the fickle coastal weather conditions. Hans Meurs, Directeur VORM Holding “Mares is in an urban location by the sea, the beach, the harbour and nature. A beautiful place, where the residential building is exposed to inclement weather at the same time. As VORM, we have extensive experience in building in inclement environments, where materials are continuously exposed to the weather. The material choice for Mares was therefore carefully made, for minimum maintenance and maximum durability, based on the philosophy that this building will last at least a hundred years. This makes Mares an ultimate sustainable development in a unique location.”
The houses will be virtually energy-neutral, with high-quality insulation and installations. Ground source heat in cooperation with heat pumps provide the homes with the right temperature. The ambition is to score at least an A++ label, which means that fossil energy consumption is kept to a minimum. In the flats, high-quality equipment ensures a pleasant indoor climate. Heat from the ground is used to generate the flats' energy needs for cooling and heating as efficiently and sustainably as possible. The flats will be equipped with a heat pump and an underfloor heating system using ground heat as a source. The common areas are powered by solar panels on the roof. Everything is aimed at making residents feel comfortable and comfortable, as well as in terms of services and discreet security measures. The entrance gives access to a spacious lobby, where during the day the 'Mares Hospitality Concierge', is present to provide desired services. Residents have access to their own enclosed garage in the immediate vicinity of the private stairwell and lift, as well as a very spacious storage room.
The Hague: the only Dutch major city by the sea with international allure
Living in Mares is synonymous with being at one with nature: the dunes, the beach and the sea and the city life of The Hague. The renovated harbour area in Scheveningen will soon be home to various shops, restaurants, and other amenities. On the ground floor of Mares are commercial spaces, intended for business activity with a maritime character. "This is a fantastic place that will further develop the city and promote transit. When Mares is completed, The Hague will have a special neighbourhood. A neighbourhood that offers space for many residents, entrepreneurs, and users to live, work and recreate. Because in addition to the relaxed life with the sea, dunes and beach, there will also be liveliness and the character of this place will be preserved," says Lisette Nijs, Director Projects Municipality of The Hague. www.mares-denhaag.nl
Read here the Dutch press release at the Mares website.
