Lighthouse Haven-Stad

Leading the Way to a Circular Urban Landscape and Resource Management in Coen- & Vlothaven

Students: Ana Paulina Cabello, Juliana Garcia Valencia, Jia Vogel, Jana Westerkamp

Tutors: Christa Reicher, Fabio Bayro Kaiser

As urban areas face mounting environmental and resource pressures, circular urbanism offers a compelling way forward by redefining how cities are planned, inhabited and sustained. Lighthouse Haven-Stad is a visionary project that aims to transform Amsterdam’s Coen- and Vlothaven districts into a regenerative, future-ready city quarter. The design translates the principles of the circular economy—reuse, regeneration and resource stewardship—into a tangible framework for one of Europe’s most complex port redevelopment sites. Inspired by the Spatial Strategy for Circular South-Holland and Amsterdam’s Integral Framework, the team has envisioned a network of ‚linking spaces‘: local hubs for material reuse, repair, and organic cycles. These spaces are connected by the Lighthouse Axis, a clean logistics and mobility spine that connects the district to the wider metropolitan area. The spatial plan incorporates vertical gardens in old silos, floating farms and shared public facilities, which together form a living ecosystem of circular activity. Implementation strategies include phased development, inclusive governance structures, and zoning aligned with circular performance. This project challenges the limits of conventional sustainability, demonstrating that spatial design can be a catalyst for systemic transformation. Lighthouse Haven-Stad proposes a circularity not as a technical solution, but as a creative and inclusive approach to reimagining how we can live and thrive in urban spaces.