bartenbridge

client: gemeente 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
location: 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
realization: 2006 (submission competition)
www.denbosch.nl

A place on the border

Although it was the assignment of the design competition, we did not want to design in a historical way in the tension area between the old city with its medieval structure and its expansion from the twentieth century beyond the historical military boundary. To strengthen the identity of the old city, there is a desire to make this boundary visible again.

In the first place, a bridge has been designed to remove a boundary, a functional and easily accessible bridge, which, especially for local residents, not only makes a pleasant connection between the old and new city, but can also serve as a residential area. It particularly emphasizes pedestrian traffic. The plan defines a pedestrian area as a connecting element on the border instead of the bridge. We have included existing "empty" places, namely: the space around the water tower, the space near the apartment tower on the Aawal and the front space of the modern church on the Graafseweg. At the ends of the bridge, we have made extensions for the pedestrian area that form "hangout spots" with views of the water, the bridge, the intersections and the fishing platform at the apartment tower. The layout of these places has been kept fairly empty, except for street furniture, to create space for any public activities.