ORGA Completes Carbon-Negative Biobased Housing in Marknesse

Netherlands-based architecture practice ORGA has completed a carbon-negative neighborhood prototype in Marknesse, Flevoland, featuring 12 affordable rental homes built with 76% renewable and circular raw materials. Commissioned by housing association Mercatus, the project reinterprets the traditional Dutch "Delft Red" brick typology using biobased materials like timber frames and wood fiber insulation, with wooden chimneys serving as bat habitats. Only concrete foundations are used; the above-ground structure is foil-free and vapor-permeable. Prefabricated timber elements reduce construction time and environmental impact. A Madaster dossier stores the building's Material Passport for tracking reuse and circular value, supporting MIA subsidy applications. Leftover wood was repurposed into mailboxes at a Salvation Army workshop. The prototype, built in early 2025, targets first-time buyers and low-income households, demonstrating that biobased construction can remain affordable. ORGA aims to establish a replicable model for social housing, supported by documentation and knowledge-sharing with other housing associations.