Oostduinlaan 75

The Oostduin-Arendsdorp Estate is one of the many green spaces in the Benoordenhout district of The Hague. Thanks to its location on a former beach ridge, the district offers an exceptionally green environment. Throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries, many estates were established on these beach ridges, bordered by large wooded lots. Originally private estates, Oostduin and Arendsdorp were later opened as parks. Beginning in the 20th Century, the area around the estate was further developed, partly based on Berlage’s expansion plan. Over time, a large variety of structures sprung up within and around the estate, including the former Shell office in 1968 on the Oostduinlaan, located on the estate’s outer edge.

In cepezed’s design, the building is being transformed into the Park Hoog Oostduin apartment complex. For the surrounding terrain, Karres en Brands seeks to combine the historic park with a grand entrance area that is both representative and contemporary in design. Using the area’s main qualities as a starting point, the goal is to restore the landscape and spatial framework. 

Essential to the design are the estate’s water and path structure, prominent open spaces, and lines of sight. Waterways and ponds are important elements that contribute to the spatial experience within the estate. The water refers back to the estate era and plays an important role in creating borders between different areas, thus shaping how each one is experienced. The design also brings back the original waterway in the form of a canal along the Oostduinlaan between the foreground and the public road. 

In addition, important lines of sight going deep into the park are re-established by tearing down the lower building block and replacing it on top of the existing foundation with a new, less elongated building block that is set apart from the main building. This creates space between the two volumes and makes the complex more involved with the adjacent park and estate. The paths on the front lawn merge seamlessly with the park’s historic path structure. With a spacious front lawn within a large oval-shaped path, the design also responds to the size and scale of the Park Hoog Oostduin and balances with the building. Despite the building’s impressive size, this still allows the front lawn to shine as an attractive recreational area.