Calling all architects, panorama architects and inside designers: Architizer’s A+Awards permits companies of all sizes to showcase their follow and vie for the title of “World’s Finest Structure Agency.” Begin an A+Agency Award Utility right now.
What if cities might flourish as pure habitats the place ecology and concrete life coexist? This can be a central query for OKRA, a panorama structure agency based mostly within the Netherlands. Established in 1994 by Hans Oerlemans, Martin Knuijt, Christ-Jan van Rooij, and Boudewijn Almekinders, the agency now consists of panorama architects, city planners, and designers from 14 completely different nationalities. Thorough analysis and a deal with craftsmanship, OKRA has grow to be identified for his or her resilient designs.
Central to OKRA’s philosophy is the creation of significant, livable areas that hook up with nature. The agency thinks of cities as pure habitats, locations the place city and pure ecosystems coexist in concord. This yr, they’re the Well-liked Selection Winner for Finest Panorama Design Agency in Architizer’s A+Awards. This recognition underscores their dedication to water administration, a vital consideration within the Netherlands. The next initiatives showcase this concept by their “Residing with Water” strategy, growing water methods that defend city environments whereas preserving pure assets. Combining interdisciplinary collaboration and a deal with methods, OKRA continues to discover how we join with nature.
Catharijnesingel
Utrecht, Netherlands
As soon as a uncared for city freeway, the Catharijnesingel in Utrecht has been reworked right into a vibrant inexperienced house and restored canal, reconnecting town with its historic roots. This 20-year challenge revitalized the realm, turning it right into a pedestrian-friendly panorama that blends outdated and new, whereas addressing local weather adaptation. The redesign prioritizes inexperienced areas, biodiversity, and sluggish transportation modes, making a park that enhances walkability and presents leisure alternatives. Catharijnesingel’s restoration has grow to be a mannequin for city renewal, incomes accolades for its modern mix of historical past, ecology, and public house.
Marina Park
Cork, Eire
Marina Park in Cork transforms a former industrial space right into a vibrant city park, fulfilling town’s imaginative and prescient for a regional inexperienced house. Designed on a fancy brownfield web site, the park integrates Cork’s industrial heritage with trendy wants, managing stormwater runoff and adapting to rising sea ranges. The primary section consists of multifunctional areas, a renovated Gaelic sports activities stadium, and a pavilion repurposed from outdated showgrounds. With Section 2 underway, the park will lengthen additional, mixing city and pure components, providing various recreation zones, and preserving historic buildings, contributing to Cork’s Docklands regeneration and enhancing biodiversity.
Cadzand Maritime
Cadzand, Netherlands
Within the seaside resort of Cadzand-Dangerous, coastal reinforcement was built-in right into a public house improve, making a secure, year-round vacation spot for residents and vacationers. Ecological dune widening enhanced biodiversity and erosion management whereas providing scenic routes for cyclists and pedestrians. The brand new marina, shaped by strengthening breakwaters, gives a singular expertise for guests. On the coronary heart of the redesign is a central maritime balcony that connects the dunes, boulevard, and marina, providing views and gathering areas. The challenge not solely improved security and ecology but in addition boosted the native financial system by making a vibrant, year-round group.
Katwijk Coastal Protection
Katwijk, Netherlands
For the previous decade, the Rijkswaterstaat and Ministry of Infrastructure and the Surroundings have strengthened weak coastal areas whereas making certain Katwijk stays a thriving vacationer vacation spot. OKRA’s design, developed by an interactive course of, emphasised preserving the city’s connection to the seashore. By setting up a dyke-in-dune system—the place a stone embankment is bolstered and hidden by dunes—the challenge minimized disruption and allowed for the addition of an underground parking storage. Pure-looking dunes and paths now join the village to the ocean, with a central dune transition serving as a welcoming occasion house for the group.
Rotterdam Westerkade
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Not way back, the quays of Rotterdam have been uncared for areas used for parking and leftover actions. Nonetheless, a brand new imaginative and prescient for a linked metropolis reworked these areas into vibrant, inexperienced public areas. The Westerkade and Parkkade quays have been redesigned to steadiness leisure and visitors, creating versatile areas for rest and occasions. With tree-lined paths, seating, and plush plantings designed by Piet Oudolf, these quays now function inviting leisure areas alongside the Maas River. The transformation revitalized Rotterdam’s riverfront, strengthening town’s connection to the water and changing into a key characteristic of its public areas.
Cutty Sark Gardens
London, United Kingdom
Cutty Sark Gardens, impressed by the ebb and movement of tides, blends a backyard and public sq. to create a dynamic, inviting house within the coronary heart of Greenwich. As a part of the Mayor’s Nice Areas initiative, the realm was revitalized forward of the 2012 Olympics, reworking a uncared for switch house right into a vigorous sq. that honors the positioning’s naval historical past and proximity to the Thames. With versatile design components and inexperienced terraces overlooking the river, Cutty Sark Gardens serves as a hyperlink in London’s imaginative and prescient for a inexperienced, linked city surroundings.
Calling all architects, panorama architects and inside designers: Architizer’s A+Awards permits companies of all sizes to showcase their follow and vie for the title of “World’s Finest Structure Agency.” Begin an A+Agency Award Utility right now.
