The city of Rotterdam is planning a new park: it will be located on the roof of a railroad viaduct and run through four districts. Read more about the two kilometer long and six meter wide courtyard arch park.
The Hofbogenpark will connect several districts in Rotterdam and provide space for people and animals. Image: De Urbanisten
The longest and narrowest rooftop park in the Netherlands
The final designs have been approved and work can begin on the Hofbogenpark in Rotterdam. This will be the longest and narrowest public rooftop park in the Netherlands and will invite visitors to take a walk of up to two kilometers. The park will only be six meters wide, but its architects want to create a “lush, colorful and fragrant linear landscape”. While the Hofbogenpark will run through four different parts of the city, it will provide important connections at treetop level. Throughout the park, there will be platforms of different sizes, providing space for activities such as play, sport, relaxation or picnics. Balconies along the railroad line will offer views of the surrounding city. The elevated park will be accessible via stairs and elevators.
The Rotterdam City Council has approved the final design of the Hofbogenpark by De Urbanisten in collaboration with DS Landschapsarchitecten. The tendering process can now begin. Construction of the park is scheduled to start in 2025 and will be financed by the municipality of Rotterdam and the Dudok Group. The costs are expected to amount to around 53.7 million euros.
Illustrations: De Urbanisten
A climate-adapted, urban solution for people and animals
The linear park will be around six meters above the ground and follow the former Hofbogen viaduct. It will not only offer recreational space for people, but also provide a large ecological corridor for animals and plants. The idea behind this is to bring nature closer to the heart of the city. Native plans and bodies of water will provide space, shelter and food for bees, butterflies, toads, bats, birds and hedgehogs. They will even have their own stairs to enter and exit the rooftop park.
Another important goal of the Hofbogenpark is climate adaptation: Rotterdam is located in the Dutch Delta and is therefore vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Sustainable water management is an important coping strategy for the city. With the Hofbogenpark, Rotterdam wants to present the next generation of climate-adapted urban solutions. Rainwater from the park’s surroundings is collected, treated by natural processes and stored in an underground aquifer. In times of drought and heat stress, this aquifer will provide clean rainwater.
In addition, the extensive greenery will increase biodiversity in the city and provide cooling in summer. With a self-sufficient water system, the Hofbogenpark will counteract water flooding and drought: No tap water is needed to water the plants, fountains and water features in the park.
Illustration: De Urbanisten
An incubator for neighbors and entrepreneurs
The Hofbogenpark will be part of a larger network of public spaces around the former railroad line. The city plans to green the surrounding streetscape and connect open landscapes around Rotterdam with the city. The end result will be a network of parks that will allow visitors and residents to move around the city primarily through interconnected green spaces.
De Urbanisten worked closely with the landscape architects of DS and De Dakdokters and involved the communities of the surrounding neighborhoods to find a design that works for everyone. The Dudok Group, a Dutch developer, owns the railroad viaduct, which used to be an important landmark in the city. For almost 100 years, the Hofpleinlijn was the most important rail link between Rotterdam and The Hague-Scheveningen. It was the first electric railroad in the Netherlands and was particularly popular for weekend trips to the seaside. Built in 1908, the viaduct was unconventional for its time as it was constructed from reinforced concrete. This allowed for a stable and lightweight construction that has stood the test of time.
In 2002, the Hofplein Viaduct was declared a national monument. The former railroad viaduct, on the roof of which a park is now being created, also has an important social function for the surrounding neighborhoods: Its arches house stores and businesses. The park will improve the opportunities for social encounters and entrepreneurial exchange as well as for neighborhood activities.
Illustrations: De Urbanisten
A journey over two kilometers
Similar to a train journey, the landscape of the Hofbogenpark changes during the two-kilometer walk along the railroad arches. At Hofplein station, city life takes center stage. Towards the north, the landscape becomes calmer, with elements of flowing water. The landscape architects were inspired by the railroad embankments and have created a mixture of naturally occurring plants and plants from the surrounding area. The dynamic landscape, with its naturalistic approach to maintenance, will change from season to season and develop its own variations over time.
The different platforms have a unique character, tailored to the wishes of the residents and each neighborhood. In the Zomerhofkwartier, for example, a platform with tables and benches offers space for a picnic. In contrast, the water platform in the Bergselaan is designed for quiet reflection and reading. And on Ammersooiseplein there will be a play area with a slide for children.