By Hans Oerlemans (editor); Urban Design Forum WA; 2016; Perth; ISBN 978-0-646-95647-3
Click: Book – Suburb to City
By Hans Oerlemans & Nick Stevens (USSC)
Presented at the PIA National Conference 2013 in Canberra, Australia
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.
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.
Development plan for reinforcing the coast to sustain sea-level rises and improve economic and spatial quality of the seaside town.
Data
| Client: | Waterboard Rijnland, with National Government, Province of Zuid Holland, Katwijk Council |
| Location: | Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands |
| Area: | 57 ha. |
| Year: | 2008-2010 |
| Status: | Ratified, under construction |
| Partners: | Arcadis consultancy, OKRA landscape architects, Alkyon water engineers |
More information? Click:
Coast Reinforcement Katwijk_Project Documentation
Coast Reinforcement Katwijk_Process & Scenario Game
or the pdf-icons at the bottom of this page.
The issue
On this 19th century harbour peninsula, the terrain of a big harbour company is going to be turned into housing. On the edge with the old neighbourhood a park is planned. This park needs to become the glue between the two quarters.
Our statement
This park has to be designed as the warm, cosy and lively living room of the neighbourhood, in contrast with the open, rough harbours surrounding the peninsula.
Our solution
We see a clear conflict between the wish-list, budget and surface in the brief. So we first play a scenario game with all stakeholders, community included, to clear up the brief. With the results we design a park that is both green and active. Colourful, with seasonal effects in the planting, to take delight in and talk about. Multifunctional paved and sunken sport-fields form an active centre and gathering place. Additional seats and functions through the park give various grounds to sit down, watch and meet other park users.
Data
| Client: | City of Rotterdam |
| Location: | Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Area: | 2.4 ha. |
| Year: | 2001-2005 |
| Status: | Constructed |
| Budget: | € 1.5 million |
| Partners: | OKRA landscape architects |
More information? Click:
Kaap Park_Project Documentation
or the pdf-icon at the bottom of this page.
Design and construction documents for wet and dry ecological linking zones.
Data
| Client: | Council of Haarlemmermeer |
| Location: | Haarlemmermeer, The Netherlands |
| Area: | 2.4 km1 |
| Year: | 1994-1998 |
| Status: | 1.3 km1 constructed |
| Partners: | OKRA landscape architects |
More information? Click:
Ecological Zones Cruquius_project documentation
or the pdf-icon at the bottom of this page.
The issue
For 300 years the cathedral square has been the trauma of the city. It is depressing and inhospitable, but the community is incapable to deal with changing it. A process of revealing the 2000-year history of the square should change the citizens’ perception. Marking the roman castellum wall is the first physical intervention, a test case for the whole operation.
Our statement
The mysterious referring to hidden pasts of the marking makes people curious, amazed and keep them intrigued, also when they pass it daily.
Our solution
History is a great inspiration. The original wall lies buried 4 meter below the surface. Its ruins were overgrown by woods in the middle ages. We design the marking with the exact measurements of the wall. Rusty corten steel refers to the soil and woods. The engraving shows map fragments of the boarders of the Roman Empire. Once an hour fog and green light rises from the marking, like a wall in mysterious swamp forest. On special days of the year the colour changes, adding to the festivity and keeping people surprised.
Data
| Client: | Domplein 2013 Foundation |
| Location: | Utrecht, The Netherlands |
| Area: | 149 m1 |
| Year: | 2006-2010 |
| Status: | Competition winner, Constructed |
| Budget: | € 1.1 million |
| Partners: | OKRA landscape architects, Rots Maatwerk |
More information? Click:
Dom Square_Project Documentation
or the pdf-icon at the bottom of this page.
The issue
Typically small-town extensions are small generic city extensions. They are blind to the town’s characteristics, killing its identity. This extension needs to reinforce and repair the town’s spatial quality.
Our statement
To strengthen the town’s character, the parcelling of the landscape has to be the base for the developments structure. Spatial principles derived from the organically grown village have to be the base for the design.
Our solution
The design is based on the long-stretched parcelling of the landscape. Two parallel streets open up the building plots. Trees and protruding alignments give reason to little deviations in the street profile, creating an organically grown appearance and slowing down traffic naturally. Plots for individual owner-builders and small-scale developments are strategically mixed, providing architectural structure. A green zone in the middle creates a communal area and a vista to the landscape. Rules for a changing building line instigate collaboration between the new residents, creating a neighbourhood community already before they start to build and live here.
Data
| Client: | City of Meppel |
| Location: | Nijeveen, The Netherlands |
| Area: | 6.2 ha. |
| Year: | 2003-2009 |
| Status: | Ratified, Constructed |
| Budget: | €1.3 million (public space) |
| Partners: | OKRA landscape architects, DAAD architects, B+O architects, SKA architects |
Design for a new neighbourhood park to connect existing and new housing in an old part of the city.
Data
| Client: | City of Amersfoort |
| Location: | Amersfoort, The Netherlands |
| Area: | 1.4 ha. |
| Year: | 2008-2011 |
| Status: | Constructed |
| Budget: | € 1.0 million |
| Partners: | OKRA landscape architects |
More information? Click:
Caspar van Wittel Park_Project Documentation
or the pdf-icon at the bottom of this page.