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The Islands 2.0
The Islands 2.0
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Other Projects by Buro Harro
The Islands 2.0
Very few cities are located just as beautiful as Arnhem is. On the north side National Park the Veluwe enters the city via splendid estates, reaching up to Central Station. Despite this great relation with the Veluwe, the connection to the river Rhine is rather defective. Two (former) industrial areas, the abandoned Stadsblokken and the factory site Meinerswijk, form a barrier between the city and the adjacent ‘natural lake district’ of Meinerswijk. In this immense lake district, located in the geographical centre of Arnhem, you can find beavers building burrows, an old stone factory and remnants of a Roman Castellum, the IJssel Linie defence line, and even two hamlets (De Praets and Het Heuveltje). These are, just like the rest of the area, overlooked by most of Arnhem’s citizens. Meanwhile, the municipality is improving its part of the area, by constructing/building cycling paths and connecting the Pond of Bruil to the river Rhine. The plan ‘The Islands 2.0’ enables to take on the weak spots of Stadsblokken and factory site Meinerswijk. The plan proposes a transformation of these sites into lively islands, with space for both nature and culture. These islands function as joint between the city and the floodplain area, truly enabling the (city’s) leap over the river Rhine. On top of that, the people of Arnhem will get many kilometres of publicly accessible riverbanks and beaches!
Island 1: Stadsblokken Seen from the Rhine Quay and across from the city centre, ‘Stadsblokken’ might look like a forested island, reality shows a largely paved and rather dim area where hardly anyone has ever been. Respecting its harbour history, the site will be transformed into an active island with a diverse urban atmosphere and water-oriented programme around the docks. This includes a marina, a tribune park with floating stage, restaurants, for instance in the old shipyard gallery, and an historical wharf in the ASM-harbour. The former harbour buildings inspire both the architecture and the design of the public space; present industrial remnants will suddenly get a new meaning here. The top of the island becomes a spectacular river-dune-landscape, including a sports track where festivals can be hosted.
Island 2: Meinerswijk The other island arises by transforming factory site Meinerswijk into a natural isle. The currently closed-off factory grounds prevent access to the southern riverbanks. And therefore, retains a healthy relationship between Arnhem and its floodplain area. By digging a new river swale, the Pond of Bruil (already extended towards river Rhine on the west side) is connected to the hamlets of De Praets and Het Heuveltje, embracing these settlements as part of the landscape park. Not only does the new swale lower the water levels of the Rhine, it also creates a natural river-dune-island: an isle with new public shores and finally a long city beach, where people can relax in the sun until late. Interesting existing buildings are renovated and re-used, mainly for public purposes, like a visitors’ center for nature reserve Meinerswijk and an annex of Museum Arnhem. Receded on the higher forested parts of the island, a small number of dwellings (clustered and detached) are added as architectural enclaves in nature. The plan ‘The Islands 2.0’ isolates humans, not nature. Literally so: the plan creates a natural zoning of lively islands between the busy city centre and the sheltered nature of Meinerswijk. No buildings will be added in the nature reserve, though the area will be further developed and connected. Most important mode of transport to The Islands (apart from cyclist- and pedestrian routes) is the ferry: a water taxi enables fast arrival at different places and harbours, ànd further strengthens the island-feeling.
The plan ‘The Islands’ is made in commission of the largest landowner, the curator of the bankrupt Phanos Nederrijn BV. There was no brief at the beginning of this process: the plan came to be through a landscape-oriented search for optimal balance with the municipality’s vision as a base. The current ‘The Islands 2.0’ is the result of an intensive debate with political parties, inhabitants, and a supervision team of stakeholders’ spokesmen.
In the mean time we have started: since 2013 effort is made to improve the area. Last summer a circus-event took place in the ASM-harbour, and the shipyard gallery was actually used as restaurant. The festival grounds have hosted a float-in-cinema twice, showing the film A Bridge too Far. This way people of Arnhem get a taster of what could happen here – in the heart of town. Only 500m away from Central Station, you can recreate and live, with the floodplains at your feet! ’The Islands 2.0’ makes Arnhem into Veluwe-city ànd Rhine-city again.
Island 1: Stadsblokken Seen from the Rhine Quay and across from the city centre, ‘Stadsblokken’ might look like a forested island, reality shows a largely paved and rather dim area where hardly anyone has ever been. Respecting its harbour history, the site will be transformed into an active island with a diverse urban atmosphere and water-oriented programme around the docks. This includes a marina, a tribune park with floating stage, restaurants, for instance in the old shipyard gallery, and an historical wharf in the ASM-harbour. The former harbour buildings inspire both the architecture and the design of the public space; present industrial remnants will suddenly get a new meaning here. The top of the island becomes a spectacular river-dune-landscape, including a sports track where festivals can be hosted.
Island 2: Meinerswijk The other island arises by transforming factory site Meinerswijk into a natural isle. The currently closed-off factory grounds prevent access to the southern riverbanks. And therefore, retains a healthy relationship between Arnhem and its floodplain area. By digging a new river swale, the Pond of Bruil (already extended towards river Rhine on the west side) is connected to the hamlets of De Praets and Het Heuveltje, embracing these settlements as part of the landscape park. Not only does the new swale lower the water levels of the Rhine, it also creates a natural river-dune-island: an isle with new public shores and finally a long city beach, where people can relax in the sun until late. Interesting existing buildings are renovated and re-used, mainly for public purposes, like a visitors’ center for nature reserve Meinerswijk and an annex of Museum Arnhem. Receded on the higher forested parts of the island, a small number of dwellings (clustered and detached) are added as architectural enclaves in nature. The plan ‘The Islands 2.0’ isolates humans, not nature. Literally so: the plan creates a natural zoning of lively islands between the busy city centre and the sheltered nature of Meinerswijk. No buildings will be added in the nature reserve, though the area will be further developed and connected. Most important mode of transport to The Islands (apart from cyclist- and pedestrian routes) is the ferry: a water taxi enables fast arrival at different places and harbours, ànd further strengthens the island-feeling.
The plan ‘The Islands’ is made in commission of the largest landowner, the curator of the bankrupt Phanos Nederrijn BV. There was no brief at the beginning of this process: the plan came to be through a landscape-oriented search for optimal balance with the municipality’s vision as a base. The current ‘The Islands 2.0’ is the result of an intensive debate with political parties, inhabitants, and a supervision team of stakeholders’ spokesmen.
In the mean time we have started: since 2013 effort is made to improve the area. Last summer a circus-event took place in the ASM-harbour, and the shipyard gallery was actually used as restaurant. The festival grounds have hosted a float-in-cinema twice, showing the film A Bridge too Far. This way people of Arnhem get a taster of what could happen here – in the heart of town. Only 500m away from Central Station, you can recreate and live, with the floodplains at your feet! ’The Islands 2.0’ makes Arnhem into Veluwe-city ànd Rhine-city again.
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