WE WON! Time to get to work on Brandevoort!

The jury was unanimous: ECHO Urban Management + ECHO Urban Design + Urban Jazz have been awarded the commission to work together on Nieuw Brandevoort in Helmond! The jury recognised our ability to address the full spectrum of spatial, programmatic and socio-economic themes and translate them into urban and landscape design.

The remaining development area next to Brandevoort station will be used to build approximately 4,000 homes, taking Helmond’s population beyond 100,000. The brief involves translating the development vision into an integrated structural plan. In parallel, we will develop the urban design plan for the first phase of 500 homes.

ECHO Urban Management will focus on organising the process, ensuring continuous alignment between design, feasibility, integrated stakeholder interests and decision-making. Through a dedicated core team, workshops and an iterative process of calculating, designing and testing, we will ensure that the different workstreams do not operate in isolation, but instead come together to inform clear, well-supported decisions.

It is great to see that this way of working was specifically recognised by the assessment committee: “Collaborative design with the municipality plays an important role in this.” We will do this as one team: ECHO Urban Design brings integrated design expertise in urban planning and landscape architecture, Urban Jazz adds extensive local knowledge and experience in Brabant, and ECHO Urban Management safeguards the process, coherence and progress.

This is a fantastic commission that brings together everything that drives us: complex area development, close and enjoyable collaboration, and using design to shape a shared direction. We look forward to working on Nieuw Brandevoort together with the Municipality of Helmond and all the parties involved.

We can’t wait to get started!