Station area Amersfoort

“The city should start at the station.” With this basic idea, Karres and Brands has created a vision to make the area in and around the station square, as well as the route to the city centre, more attractive. Our vision aims to contribute to a green, healthy city by ensuring that its beating heart, the mobility hub, is a highly functional place where a pleasant interchange between trains, busses, bicycles and taxis can happen. And, the pedestrian is central to the entire plan.

Our main theme: create space. Bicycles will be parked underground rather than on the station square. The car and bus lanes will be combined and the intersections on the Stationsstraat will be redesigned. This will create more room for cyclists and pedestrians and provide space for an attractive green route to the city centre. The station square will become a pleasant place to be with optimal walking routes, places to linger and relax, green and water elements, and seating areas. Bike paths from all directions will be optimally connected to the new bicycle garage. On the square, there will be a large entrance to the bicycle parking with a moving walkway so that even older cyclists can comfortably bridge the difference in height. Most bike commuters arrive via the Smalle Pad. In the new plan, they will be able to cycle directly into the bicycle garage via an architectural connection that will be added to the backside of the current station building. This connector was one of the city council’s top priorities. 

The vision is further elaborated in a broad set of measures for the public space and traffic structure, as well as for the buildings and the overall liveliness of the streetscape. Other concrete measures proposed will contribute to the climate-proofing of the station square and the route to the city centre. The diversity of trees and plants and the installation of insect hotels and ecological herb gardens will offer pleasant spaces for both humans and wildlife. The route can also play a role in the city’s metabolism by linking energy flows, using residual heat, storing energy and maybe even producing energy. All materials are either CO2 neutral or recycled. A “smart” lighting system will be installed so lights can react to different forms of use.

The plan was drawn up in close consultation with all stakeholders. The city contributed to the planning process during various brainstorming events, and the plan incorporates the many desires, ideas and concerns expressed during an intensive dialogue. If the municipality and council members agree to the plan, construction is expected to begin in 2020.