Binckhorst The Hague

The challenge of urbanisation for Binckhorst offers opportunities to enhance the quality and futureproof its public space. Within the vision, the urbanisation within Binckhorst is combined with high ambitions for climate adaptation, biodiversity and liveability. The starting point is a complete vision for the whole of Binckhorst, as an inspiring image of the long-term future perspective. Binckhorst benefits from an early investment in greenery. Through a framework for the public space and urbanisation, development of the area can be realised in different phases. With every step, greening and enhancing the public space goes hand in hand with urbanisation. Thus, urbanisation develops along with greenery within Binckhorst. Greenery first, then building.

The vision can be described as a design exercise with three themes at its base; climate adaptation, biodiversity and liveability. By structuring the public space through these three themes, a green city neighbourhood is formed with a high density. A neighbourhood in which different types of green, public spaces offer an essential contribution to a futureproof and liveable working and living environment. From the overall vision, concrete areas have been further thought out, such as the park along the shore of the Trekvliet, ‘climate ribbons’, streets, the harbour and vacant plots. To achieve this, ingredients have been implemented in relation to the design of the public space, through incorporation of the water challenge, vegetation types, mixed-use space and specification of dimensions.

The park will be a new city park alongside the Trekvliet, with space for water retention, ecologically valuable gradients and cool places to stay. It will be a park that is well integrated in the neighbourhood and also forms an important, green connection between the centre of The Hague and the surrounding countryside. Subsequently, the ‘climate ribbons’ connect the shore park and the adjacent network of streets. The streets will be transformed into green streets where possible, with added quality for slow-mobility. Across the neighbourhood, cool places to stay are located in green areas, or are connected to the water through the green network of streets. Along the harbour, new hotspots emerge for Binckhorst with a vibrant program within the ground floor of the buildings, informal places to stay on the quay and connected routes along the harbour. By greening the quay and strategically implementing (pocket) parks on the hottest location