Park Rijnhaven

By appointment of the municipality of Rotterdam, Karres en Brands have created a preliminary design for Park Rijnhaven. The future park is sited in a former harbour area in Rotterdam, between the Wilhelminapier and Katendrecht. For the development of the area, a section of the Rijnhaven will be reclaimed. Firstly, a large, deep parking structure will be realized in Park Rijnhaven. Next to the park ‘The Scharnier’, an area with urban functions such as restaurants, shops, offices and public facilities, will be developed. Both the park and the new urban functions contribute to the liveliness of this locale.

In the design for Park Rijnhaven, dealing with height restrictions for the parking garage and a desire to connect with the water were important main factors. The park must have a considerably positive quality for short and long stays, for young and old, for the student and businessman. It will become a sheltered, gentle place, in contrast with the rigid and stony quays of the Kop van Zuid. The park is given own identity, a lightly sloping topography and large areas of grass. These will be separated from each other with elongated lines, referring to weathered driftwood. These lines will be manifested in various ways: as water-obstructing quay barriers, stairs, benches or the retaining wall toward the parking garage. The lines bridge the difference in elevation from the park to the water. Given the sizable fluctuations in water (ca. 3.5 metres) it is possible that parts of the park will flood a few times per year.