Master plan for reconnecting the city to the river. The river is the origin of the city, but now the city is hidden behind walls and dikes. The river forelands are unkept and under used. The plan turns this part of the city into the multifunctional, multi atmosphere leisurely centre of the wider region.

Data
Client: City of Tiel
Location: Tiel, The Netherlands
Area: 215 ha.
Year: 2006
Status: Ratified
Partners: OKRA landscape architects, SAB urban planners

 

 

Master plan, schematic design public space and guide lines for further plan development for the transformation of a historical industrial area into a new vibrant multifunctional city district.

 

Data
Client: City of Hengelo, project office Hart van Zuid
Location: Hengelo, The Netherlands
Area: 56 ha.
Year: 1999-2004
Status: Ratified, under construction
Partners: Dolte town planning, OKRA landscape architects

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information? Click:

wOnder_Heart of South_Doc_150dpi

or the pdf-icon at the bottom of this page.

The issue

The city of Meppel is extending into a sensitive cultural landscape. A district half the size of the current city will be developed in the next 25 years. The plan needs to be respectful to the landscape, well connected with the city and produce a finished result in every phase.

Our statement

In New-Peat Lands everybody will live at a meadow, creating a district where city and landscape slide into each other.

Our solution

The typical cultivation pattern of the landscape is the base for the urban plan. Instead of the usual complete filling, we introduce an alternative civil engineering method. Thus we can retain all ditches, as base for both the urban water system and the development framework. Build-up parcels are alternated with agricultural meadow zones. Three distinct ribbons further elaborate the framework. Large-scale recreational facilities and a finely meshed network of paths join the city to the new district and the landscape.

Data
Client: City of Meppel
Location: Meppel, The Netherlands
Area: 737 ha.
Year: 2003-2005
Status: Ratified
Partners: OKRA landscape architects, Tauw environmental consultants, Goudappel Coffeng traffic engineers

 

More information? Click:

Nieuwveense Landen_Project Documentation

Nieuwveense Landen_Process & Scenario Game

Nieuwveense Landen_Master Plan Summary

or the pdf-icon at the bottom of this page.

The issue

The village is threatened to be submerges by the advancing city. The new extensions need to strengthen the village identity, setting it apart from the city.

Our statement

The village atmosphere is in essence an organically grown, small-scale urban fabric. Visually dominated by green and the surrounding landscape. And mixed use is knitted together with a strong social cohesion.

Our solution

Vistas and routes connect the new neighbourhoods to the landscape and to the village centre. The street profiles are diverse, with a mix of housing types and staggering fronts. Little squares, public gardens and small fields contribute to the informal atmosphere. A centre for the mentally disabled is incorporated and maintains the public gardens. Parking is kept out of view on the brick-paved roads. People, houses and green dominate the image, not cars, although they are functionally fully included. Sustainability aspect like stormwater retention and local energy production are also integrated.

Data
Client: Koopmans Projects, with City of Deventer
Location: Schalkhaar, The Netherlands
Area: 17.5 ha.
Year: 2005-2007
Status: Ratified, Under construction
Budget: € 6.0 million (public space)
Partners: Bentvelsen Fleer Architects & Urban Planners, OKRA landscape architects

 

More information? Click:

Schalkhaar_Project Documentation

or the pdf-icon at the bottom of this page.

The issue

The centre of town is deteriorating and loosing costumers. Retrofitting the urban structure needs to enforce its economical competition power.

Our statement

The centre needs to be made livelier: draw, house and keep people. People attract more people and that keeps business running.

Our solution

The strategy focuses on creating more atmospheres to experience, adding people and enhancing physical connections. The centre amenities (shops, events, services) are more clearly zoned around the historical central street. Adding small squares, parks and alleys, places to sit and stray, diversifies network of public spaces. Improving the connections with the surrounding neighbourhoods increases the natural flow of people through the centre. Adding dwellings diversifies the centre and increases the basic volume of public, improving liveliness and the attraction of other people.

Data
Client: City of Hoogeveen
Location: Hoogeveen, The Netherlands
Area: 23.1 ha.
Year: 2007-2009
Status: Ratified
Partners: OKRA landscape architects, attuned with joining centre parts by Soeters Architects and Atelier Dutch Urban Planners.

 

More information? Click:

Hoogeveen Centre_Project Documentation

or the pdf-icon at the bottom of this page.

The issue

The National Government aspires to put this area on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Therefore the archaeological values in the landscape need to be protected. Economical detriments need to be compensated within the landscape itself.

Our statement

The two historical layers, now blurred into each other, need to become separately readable. This opens up a whole new world of economical potentials.

Our solution

First we research the possibilities to protect the archaeology. Interactive with all stakeholders, we attune the archaeological ambitions to the acceptable level of new developments. With the outcome, we design a landscape framework, clarifying the rational land-claim. This hosts a set of story lines, illuminating the archaeology. Together they create a clear structure for adding wind turbines, increase recreational attraction and additional income, and thus free up space for the desired archaeological protection.

Data
Client: Province of Flevoland, with Lelystad City, Dronten Council, Farmers Coop. Swifterbant
Location: Flevoland, The Netherlands
Area: 38.2 km2
Year: 2003-2004
Status: Ratified
Partners: OKRA landscape architects

 

More information? Click:

Swifterbant_Project Documentation Swifterbant_Process & Scenario Game

or the pdf-icon at the bottom of this page.

The issue

The National Government has defined the core qualities for the national landscapes. They are striking, but not practical. They need to be made useful for daily practice in planning and design.

Our statement

The essence of making the core qualities practical is to analyse sharply what you see, force to grab it in one image, and explain why it looks that way.

Our solution

By forcing ourselves to grab the landscape in one image only, we get to the essence of its appearance. The image is explained in 5 icons and nuanced with sub- areas. Four characteristic story-lines explain the landscapes appearance and values. The ambitions for improving the key qualities are determined. And we create design principles to assist new developments so they can strengthen the core qualities. This all is done in close cooperation with the people of the Province. The result becomes really their guide.

Data
Client: Province of Utrecht
Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands
Area: 1449 km2
Year: 2009-2010
Status: Ratified and published
Partners: OKRA landscape architects

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information? Click:

Paper Continuity of Culture

Quality Guides_Project Documentation

Quality Guides_Project Booklet

or the pdf-icon at the bottom of this page.

Design for the public space around 2.1 km arterial road between a new residential area and the existing town.

 

Data
Client: Council of Haarlemmermeer
Location: Nieuw Vennep, The Netherlands
Area: 22 ha.
Year: 1996-1999
Status: Constructed
Partners: OKRA landscape architects

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information? Click:

Nieuwerkerkertocht_Project Documentation

or the pdf-icon at the bottom of this page.

Recreation-economical scenario for the development of the 80 km historic important New Dutch Waterline (nominee UNESCO world heritage list).

 

Data
Client: National Government – Project office NHW
Location: The Netherlands
Area: 273 km2
Year: 2001
Status: Ratified and published
Partners: OKRA landscape architects

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information? Click:

New Dutch Waterline_Project Documentation

or the pdf-icon at the bottom of this page.

The issue

Normal industrial parks are often messy areas. Not very representational. This new site had to have a better spatial quality. One that improves the reputation of the businesses.

Our statement

To achieve a representative industrial park, the public space has to be quality carrier, not the individual plots. They should be liberated from spatial planning restrictions.

Our solution

We concentrate all available public space in a central park. The park accommodates facilities for lunchtime, relaxing and water buffering. It also accompanies the main road, which gives access to the surrounding ‘business chambers’. Public walls around these chambers provide a high quality setting for the public space. At the same time they create spatial freedom for the individual plots. Two routes connect the park with the existing town. This produces new routes between sport grounds, train station and residential neighbourhoods. The industrial site becomes meaningful to the whole town.

Data
Client: Council Haarlemmermeer
Location: Nieuw Vennep, The Netherlands
Area: 54.6 ha.
Year: 1998-1999
Status: Ratified, Contructed
Partners: Advin consultancy & engineers, OKRA landscape architects, Feekes architects