The Lebuinus Squares; grandeur and conviviality finally go hand in hand.
From a graceless car park to a warm square, connected to its history and looking forward to the future. By means of an intensive participation process and responding to the natural relief, the monumental Lebuinus church has been given a ‘soft’ plinth, a pedestal with a cosy atmosphere, matching the warm hue of the church. Groups of trees with terraces, a water element with spouts and loose chairs provide this ‘conviviality’. And in between a beautiful void with subtle details that do justice to the ‘grandeur’ of the majestic church and surrounding historic buildings. Grandeur and conviviality go hand in hand.
The Hanseatic city of Deventer was founded at the site of the overwhelmingly large Lebuinus church by the city’s patron, St. Lebuinus. A historic cemetery turned car park, the cluttered Grote Kerkhof square lacked grandeur. No cohesion, decorated separately, bare and uninviting. Until 2019, Lebuinus Square was used as a car park. The task given by the Municipality was to redesign Lebuinus Square in a way that it forms a unity with the old city centre, invites people to meet and stay and is accessible to everyone. All this is taking into account the intensive program for the square: sunny café terraces, the addition of greenery, appropriate lighting, a large event space (fair/market), rainwater catchment, and a water surface for cooling and playing.
By involving residents and other stakeholders intensively in the design process, a widely supported design emerged. Given the square’s various functions, a spatial design was chosen: a quiet emptiness with a friendly atmosphere. No blobs of greenery either, less is more! To loud applause, this design was unveiled at the town hall.
Water management is an important and complex part of the square. An ingenious, stepped watercourse had to be fitted in so that peak rainfall would not cause flooding as water drains towards the river IJssel. Rainwater pipes have been disconnected from the sewers, and under the square lie drains, water storage and deep infiltration pits that retain rainwater. Inserting all this was challenging due to the underground archaeology with 40.000 graves.
Height differences are overcome without edges, making the entire square accessible to people with disabilities. Meeting places on the square, such as chairs near the water element, create opportunities for people to meet and connect. Extra trees and the water element offer both cooling and entertainment for children. Wide, curved bands run subtly from the square into the city centre. Accessible day and night, the square and its facades are well-lit thanks to a robust lighting plan.
The site’s rich history is expressed in tree rings inscribed with poems, a locally sand-cast brass water element, and lighting masts that refer to the halo and staff of St. Lebuinus, founder of Deventer. Paving with brick and natural stone enhances the medieval look. The square better connects to the historic buildings around, as well as the adjacent squares.
Shortlisted (Finalist) – 2025 WLA Awards in the Built – Large Public Space category
Lebuinus Squares
Location: Deventer, The Netherlands
Designer Credit: BoschSlabbers Landscape + Urban design
Client: Municipality of Deventer
Collaborators/Other Consultants:
Experience Research: STIPO
Lighting Design: StudioDL
Water Element: Rots Maatwerk
Text for tree rings: Herman Evers & Bram de Borst
Constructor: Hoornstra Ophof Infra
Photographer/Image Credits: BoschSlabbers, Bart Ros, Jeroen Musch