In a suburb of Utrecht, the Netherlands, the Rijnvliet project has been completed — the first residential district organised as a food forest. At the initiative of local residents, architects Felixx and De Zwarte Hond created a space where, instead of traditional lawns, more than 1,000 fruit trees and 220 species of edible plants now grow.
On an area of 150,000 m², seven layers of vegetation have been planted: from tall trees to grasses and root crops. This creates favourable conditions for birds and insects, increases biodiversity and improves the environment. Care for the plantings is provided by a special team hired by the municipality.
The entire district was built with sustainable development principles in mind: bridges and benches are made of local wood, and the streets are covered with permeable materials. Local residents can now literally pick up a harvest on the way home — whether it is an apple, a berry or aromatic greens.
