The Stationstuinen Barendrecht proposal is a 19 acre transformation project, based on transit oriented development, for a new mixed-use neighbourhood. Situated in Rotterdam’s metropolitan region, the neighbourhood’s urban concept is based on the qualitative extension of the Barendrecht town whilst contributing to the larger common landscape.
With 3000 new homes, the mix of housing types are planned as a means to achieve a diverse, inclusive and vibrant neighbourhood. This mix includes affordable, co-operative and mid-and-free market housing. At all levels, diversity is key to the plan as urban life, established commerce and old and new functions are to coexist within the neighbourhood.
The urban plan creates four neighborhoods that are situated around a central green zone where recreation, climate adaptation and ecological services are combined.
The Stationstuinen is part of a regional Transit Oriented Development strategy that seeks to create mixed-use urban environments along the ‘old rail’ that connects cities between Amsterdam and Dordrecht. Because of the excellent regional connection, the neighborhood is not dependent on cars and can therefore be designed with safe and healthy public spaces.
The streetscape of the Stationstuinen is dominated by people not cars. Parking is solved in multifunctional mobilityhubs at the edges of the urban plan, but wuthin walking distance. The streets combine recreation, play, urban agriculture, climate adaptation and ecological networks.
Lastly, the project is based on a multi-modal mobility where durable pedestrian, non-motorized and public modes of transportation are favoured. At its fringes, mobility hubs are planned to provide parking facilities, ensuring that the neighbourhood is car-free – thus determining a long term vision for Barendrecht.
The transformation of the existing industrial park is based on a vision of landscape that nurtures climate adaptation and ecological measures. Here, access to high quality green spaces is key throughout the plan in which urban and open spaces are interdependent. All buildings are arranged along a variety of inclusive public squares, planted streets, shared and private gardens and a large green corridor at its centre. Hereby, the dense vegetation provides pleasant climatic conditions in conjunction with water-retention measures.