SWA/Balsley has recently unveiled the Nelson Mandela Park Master Plan concept for Rotterdam, Netherlands.
The project will be located in a post-industrial area along the harbor that is home to a growing and increasingly diverse immigrant population. Inspired by the natural hydrology and tidal vegetation systems of the nearby river, Nelson Mandela Park Master Plan celebrates the maritime heritage of Rotterdam while harnessing the coast for the benefit of future generations.
The design includes a vision for a “Culture Campus” that will give the park a unique identity within Rotterdam’s park system and waterfront. The park is surrounded by dense urban districts lacking green spaces. SWA/Balsley worked with the City and Arup to create a plan that will serve these adjacent neighborhoods by providing a seven-hectare destination comprising a naturalized shoreline, marsh habitats, multi-purpose lawns, tree groves, and sculpted knolls and overlooks.
Additionally, the design team advocated to create a space large enough to accommodate more community programming. As such, the design features multiple flexible lawn areas for community events, all-age play grounds in a shaded tree grove, a cultural plaza, overlooks, and a marsh walk. The water’s edge was conceived as a dynamic experience and includes innovative tidal pools, wetland habitats, and a local water taxi station and pavilion.
Related Stories
Urban Planning | May 4, 2016
Brookings report details how different industries innovate
In the new report, “How Firms Learn: Industry Specific Strategies for Urban Economies,” Brookings' Scott Andes examines how manufacturing and software services firms develop new products, processes, and ideas.
Urban Planning | Apr 19, 2016
MVRDV wants to turn a former US Army barracks in Germany into a model for the future of suburban living
Blending traditional families with young couples and the newly retired, MVRDV hopes to transform traditional suburbs into diverse communities of shared experiences
High-rise Construction | Mar 10, 2016
Bigger, taller, wider: London’s skyline is about to have a major growth spurt
More than 100 tall buildings have been added to the plans for the capital city since this time last year, and the overall number of tall buildings planned for London is now over 400.
High-rise Construction | Feb 25, 2016
Kohn Pedersen Fox wants to build a mile-high tower in Tokyo
The tower would be the centerpiece of Next Tokyo, a mini city in Tokyo Bay adapted to climate change and rising tides.
Mixed-Use | Feb 18, 2016
New renderings unveiled for Miami Worldcenter master plan
The ‘High Street’ retail promenade and plaza is one of the largest private master-planned projects in the U.S. and is set to break ground in early March.
Green | Feb 18, 2016
Best laid plans: Masdar City’s dreams of being the first net-zero city may have disappeared
The $22 billion experiment, to this point, has produced less than stellar results.
Urban Planning | Feb 9, 2016
Winners named in 'reinventing Paris' competition
Architects submitted projects that redeveloped key parts of the city and incorporated green space features.
Urban Planning | Feb 2, 2016
Report identifies 600 cities that will drive economic growth through 2025
Of them, 440 are in emerging economies in China, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Urban Planning | Jan 21, 2016
Anders Berensson Architects re-imagines Stockholm as a city of skywalks
The Swedish firm’s "Klarastaden" plan connects the city via clear skyways that weave in and around the city’s buildings.
Urban Planning | Jan 19, 2016
Cities are booming, but do they have what it takes to sustain growth?
While cities are creating new jobs and attracting new residents, there are warning signs that suggest this current urban boom lacks the necessary sustainability that comes with focusing on the macro issues of community, affordibility, and displacement, writes Gensler’s Peter Weingarten.
