SAWA Welcomes First Residents
June 05, 2025
Neighbors meet at sustainable heights
This month, the first residents are moving into SAWA, the new wooden residential building in the heart of Rotterdam. Among them are a couple who purchased a unit and a tenant of a mid-segment rental apartment – neighbors who will soon live side-by-side on the same floor. This tangibly illustrates the inclusive living vision that guided SAWA's development: a place for encounter, biodiversity, and affordability.
SAWA was developed by NICE Developers TBI company ERA Contour and is the first large-scale residential building in Europe to be constructed almost entirely from wood and recycled materials, and which has also been designed and built in a circular manner. But SAWA is more than just an architectural and ecological statement: it is a social promise. The building consists of 109 homes, with a mix of owner-occupied, private sector rental, and no fewer than 50 mid-range rental homes. This makes living in SAWA accessible to a broad target group.
Deliberately allocated to individuals with societal impact
What makes SAWA particularly unique is that the mid-segment rental apartments were allocated based on priority rules: individuals in socially relevant professions and those transitioning from the social housing sector were given preference for a residence in SAWA. This approach not only contributes to a healthy housing market but also fosters a strong social foundation within the building itself.
“When I heard that SAWA made mid-segment rental apartments available for people in socially relevant professions, I thought: this is my chance. I never imagined that as a Healthcare Education Coach, I would be able to live in such a sustainable home and beautiful building in the heart of the city. And then also in such a pleasant place – social, green, and with neighbors who consciously choose this community. That immediately creates a sense of connection.”
Eline received the keys to her mid-segment rental apartment this week and will soon move into SAWA, Healthcare Education Coach Eline
“The outdoor space convinced us, but the story behind SAWA makes it even more special. It's our first home across the river – from South to North – and our first step into a building that offers more than just a residence. You can feel that this was built for both people and nature: a place where people consciously choose sustainability and community living. We are eager to be a part of that.”
Carin and Peter became proud owners of a terrace home in SAWA this week – they will soon be Eline's neighbors, Carin and Peter
Building a community instead of stacking as many homes as possible
SAWA is not about maximizing the number of residences and square meters, but about building a community. The building features shared spaces, a communal living deck with opportunities for communal gardening.This provides space for social interaction, encounter, and a shared sense of responsibility for the place. This fosters a close-knit and diverse community of residents who collectively contribute to a healthy and future-proof city.
From left to right: Chiel Wassenaar (Schep Vastgoedmanagers); Jeroen Smits (Focus on Impact); Residents Eline, Carin, and Peter; René van Druten (ERA Contour); Mark Compeer (NICE Developers).
“With SAWA, we demonstrate that it is indeed possible: sustainable housing development that is not only beneficial for the climate but also for people. By creating a deliberate mix of owner-occupied, rental, and mid-segment rental units – and truly prioritizing inclusivity – we are building a city where everyone can find a place.”
co-founder of NICE Developers, Mark Compeer
From Promise to Reality
With the completion of the first residences this month, SAWA becomes a tangible reality. What began as a promise – a sustainable, circular, and inclusive way of building – now stands as a concrete achievement. In the coming weeks, more and more residents will move into the building, and SAWA will evolve into a vibrant community demonstrating what the city of the future can look like today.
