The city of Holland in Michigan, USA ows it's name to the great amount of Dutch residents. Yearly Holland attracts a great deal of tourists, looking for Dutch heritage. In order to satisfy their needs and to keep them coming to Holland, the city council wants to build a typical (Northern-)Dutch heritage town. This 'Windmill Island' has to become a major tourist attraction, but also as a residential area. So far the windmill is the only building on the island, but this is going to change rapidly in the next couple of years. KAW joined hands with an American architecture practice to work out the city's vision.

Villages do not develop within 1 year. Nor in 5, 10 or even 100 years. Dutch villages have a history of development that goes back centuries. Because of this long history, each village has its own character, with differences in town planning, land division and architecture. These differences in particular determine the character of a village or town. And exactly these differences form the base of our concept for Windmill Island. In the very rapid development history of Windmill Island we wish to introduce a number of differences, so that it will become a village with character.

Moreover, the village should become a village community. By entering into the design process together, with the inhabitants, the municipality, the heritage board and commercial businesses, Windmill Island may grow to be a success in terms of being an authentic Dutch village, in the context of New Urbanism and as a great tourist attraction.

Among other things KAW set up the design guidelines regarding the various public and private buildings, such as dwellings, shops, an ancient dutch church and a typical farm from the northern part of Holland. The various participants have to make a move now: enterpreneurs and future residents need to lease lots and sign an agreement of intention, in order to make the project work.