The Smartblock concept by Mei Architecten En Stedenbouwers BV, The Netherlands, creates new sustainable housing in the London Thames Gateway providing a community where people can live comfortably in this busy urban environment.

The London Gateway is dominated by the river Thames. This river flows into the North Sea, and when it reaches the proposed construction site area, the Thames turns into a river delta. Some 60% of the world's population live in river deltas. Such concentrated habitation and industry causes the disappearance of nature, and that puts pressure on what was an attractive residential climate. For the sustainable development of towns in river deltas, the aim should be to reduce drastically pollution of land and water, and to reintroduce nature (integration of nature, living and employment).

Mei Architecten' proposal for Living Steel, Smartblock makes brown fields habitable by reintroducing natural flora and fauna. A tried and trusted method of improving soil is proposed that removes 50-100 cm of brown field soil and uses that soil as raised building land on the same site. This can lead to the creation of a landscape that can become a natural marsh owing to the tide of the river. Carefully chosen vegetation and a selection of bacteria can purify the polluted soil rapidly. The housing will be located on raised land covered with a clean top layer of around 1 m thick. The chosen ‘Smartblock' building typology is characterised by high density housing in a low-rise development (100 dwellings/hectare). Smartblock is an open building block with a large shared deck. Smartblock consists of Smarthouse construction technology and is carried out in such a way that it provides for flexibility in the size of dwelling and community spirit. A deck can be planned, and there is space for a winter garden or glasshouse, for trees and/or windmills. The streets between the residential blocks are green, half-hardened and free of cars.

The Smarthouse construction system was developed by Mei Architecten as a prototype. At the time a large amount of standard housing was to be built by private clients (future occupants). This construction, which focused on house-buyers, inspired us to develop a house-construction system that offers the private client a house design of guaranteed quality, planning and price. In the Smarthouse system everything depends on the joints. All building disciplines meet here, and that leads to big risks in terms of guaranteeing quality. All joint details are determined, as are all principle fixings of the light façade materials (through guarantee of the National Home Warranty Institute).

The Smarthouse construction system is characterised by disconnecting the building components in the on-site assembly. This allows the different building components to go through different life cycles without necessitating the demolition of or changes to other components. The façade, for example, can be replaced without changing the main bearing structure, creating a sustainable construction method.

A light foundation structure can function optimally when a clean top layer makes it impossible to drill foundation piles. A light foundation is possible here because of the light steel structure, walls and floors. The main bearing structure is built on concrete plates. Owing to the slim chance of flooding, the entire structure is galvanised and coated up to the first floor.

Smarthouse dwellings can be cladded with all light façade systems. A façade panel was developed by our office using the energy-saving product cast iron. The use of a lively material like cast iron for façade panels, which is orange-brown to start with but then turns reddish brown after about 18 months, gives the entire steel building a warm appearance. This application is fully supported by certificates and tests.

The interior walls are carried out in galvanised steel C-profiles coated on both sides with sheets of plasterboard that sandwich insulation between them. The walls and floors on the ground floor are carried out with C-profiles coated on both sides with galvanised steel plates with rubber intervals. Waterproof insulation is placed between.

The Smartblock is located near the future development of the London Riverside Conservation Park. The aim is to have as much as 1 million visits a year. Among the facilities of the park are various cafés, a children's farm and recreational areas. Features of the area are the presence of nature, water, public transport (tram/sub-way/train) and motorway, and also a ferry connection along the Thames to London. Almost all amenities in London are less than 45 minutes away. It is, in short, a perfect place to live without necessitating huge investments. Sustainable use is made of the available potential in the area in this way.

All materials used in the Smartblock are recyclable. The steel construction makes it easier to be prefabricated off site and thus less rubbish on site owing to assembly only construction. The lightweight construction makes it easier to transport, which means less CO₂ emission. Alterations and renovations can be carried out faster and more cheaply thanks to sectional building and design.

The dwellings are carried out with hollow walls and floors in which pipes and cables can easily be integrated. The cold-rolled C-profiles in these walls and floors are fitted with recesses in such a way that pipes and cables can be inserted. The waste stack will usually remain situated in the same place. The outer façades are fitted with the best possible insulation (Rc: 6.5). Heat loss is therefore kept to a minimum. The energy needed to heat and ventilate the house is delivered by an autarkic system. Space can be created under the deck in the central area to integrate these systems in the Smartblock. The first settlements can therefore be self-sufficient. An autarkic toolbox is developed to give consumers aid and alternatives for conventional energy supplies.