BOGAARD SQUARE
DELVA presents Bogaard Square: an energetic urban park in Rijswijk
From a barren stone desert to a vibrant green urban park, the radical transformation of Bogaard Square marks the eagerly awaited kickoff for further development in the Rijswijk city center within De Bogaard. Structural greening forms the cornerstone for optimising the livability and resilience of the city. By intertwining nature as much as possible with the functional aspects of the urban park as a social hub, a place to meet, relax, exercise, and play, sustainable city objectives are also achieved. This includes climate adaptation — resilience against heat stress and rainwater management — as well as promoting biodiversity, health, and well-being.
Oasis in the city
The new urban park sits atop the existing parking garage, featuring undulating terrain with a rich diversity of greenery, from large trees and shrubs to flowering plants and grasses. Winding through these are elegant paved pathways that connect the various functionalities of the park. This creates a thoroughfare for cyclists and pedestrians, akin to an oxygen-rich oasis, offering ever-changing vistas. Whether heading towards the shopping area or traversing the city park on a bicycle, this new urban landscape invites one to take a deep breath and relish a moment of pure enjoyment amidst the greenery. Moreover, the urban park is a destination in itself, an attractive refuge for people of all ages, for healthy activities and daily relaxation.
Cutting through the park is a looped route featuring various sports and recreational facilities, spaces for picnics, sunbathing, or seeking shade. A spacious terrace with an amphitheater and a new water feature provide a safe playing area for children on warm days, while their guardians can relax on benches, keeping a watchful eye. When the fountains are turned off, this area becomes an ideal spot for activities like a book market or performances, and in winter, it can host an ice rink with a Christmas market. Additionally, Rijswijk will have a weekly organic market in this new urban park, connecting the old functionality of Bogaard Square and its adjacent shopping area with the city’s healthy, green future strategy.
A contemporary urban park
By redefining the existing character of the site and introducing more greenery to the heart of Rijswijk, the urban park addresses contemporary issues of climate adaptation, biodiversity, and health and well-being for the future.
The current functions of the park are revitalized, while new activities find their place in the urban park. The existing water basin is replaced by a theater of fountains. Children can safely play on hot days under the supervision of parents seated on the terrace or benches in the park. In winter, the water feature can make way for a paved, flexible central square for other activities and events such as an ice rink or a Christmas market.
Green first, then further development.
The Municipality of Rijswijk consciously chose NOT to invest in PR campaigns to revive the shopping center but to invest these funds in spatial quality, creating a destination and improving the living environment through the green square. This is commendable and should happen much more often. Public green, nature as a PR machine.
Location: Bogaardplein 47, 2284 DP Rijswijk
Design year: 2017
Year Completed: 2022
