Parkplein aan de Eem

Pleinpark aan de Eem is our vision for the city square reimagined not in stone but in soil, trees, light and shade. A hybrid of park and square, the Parkplein challenges the prevailing notion of urbanism, where often hardscapes dominate and public life is tethered to consumption.

The Parkplein prioritises the continuity of vegetation while providing the walkability of a square. On a large scale, it ensures the connection of the new larger master plan with the the larger Amersfoort area. At the same time, on a district scale, it must also ensure the new neighbourhoods to its north-west and south-east are well connected, playing its role as a node, not a separation. The historic Rova, NeNaFa, and Van der Meiden buildings are transformed into public frequency bringers. Demolition waste is used either for terrain infills or to ornament the paving with the site’s history.

Our massing proposal favours low-rise buildings, limited to a maximum of six storeys—to encourage the adoption of biobased construction methods. The gallery buildings are primarily made of timber, with their structure providing protection for the sensitive façades against the weather climate. The corner and head buildings are envisioned in compressed earth blocks (CEBs), a promising, yet underutilised material in the Netherlands, particularly suitable for regions with abundant clay. Using anti-erosion layers not only increases their lifespan, but also creates a self-shadowing facade that reduces urban heat island effect. Nesting aids are included in the facade composition.

A natural pool, fed from the Eem and filtered by plants, offers refreshment during the warmest days, fixing the Pleinpark as a destination in wider Amersfoort. The planting concept circles around the idea of food. There are three main landscape types: a orchard, an edible garden and an edible swamp.