Connection Park Ede by Strootman Landschapsarchitecten

strootman.net/
2025 Entries / 2025 Public Projects / Netherlands / Built in 2020 /

In Ede, Strootman Landschapsarchitecten successfully connected two
neighborhoods with the creation of The new country estate. This garden park
serves as a modern counterpart to the nearby historic country estate of Kernhem.
A vital aspect of the project is its role as a habitat for several bat colonies. Newly
planted trees and nature-friendly embankments form migration routes for the bats
as they search for food.

The initial plan for The new country estate envisioned the construction of a
shopping center and park over the provincial road N224. However, as time went
on, the plans were adjusted due to economic challenges. What remains of the
original concept is the park-like setting. The shopping center was ultimately built
north of the road, while a pedestrian and cyclist underpass was created to
connect the two neighborhoods. The underpass was deliberately designed with
open sections to create a light and safe atmosphere.

The design of The new country estate draws inspiration from the old country
estate of Kernhem, situated north of the provincial road. The residential area to
the north is also named Kernhem, while the southern neighborhood is called
Veldhuizen. Strootman Landschapsarchitecten extended the historically green
and landscaped character of the northern area into the southern neighborhood,
creating a seamless and unified landscape. Elements of the garden park still
reflect the essence of the old country estate, with clusters of trees, alternating
dense and open spaces, ponds, and carefully designed street furniture.

One of the distinctive features of The new country estate is the preserved beech
avenues that link the park to the Veluwe, a large natural area. These avenues
serve as critical migration routes for bats, guiding them along water features
nestled between residential buildings. These bat colonies are protected and hold
significant ecological value. To support their habitat, monumental trees were
preserved, and approximately 250 new trees were planted, including oaks,
beeches, and lindens. Additionally, the lighting fixtures were specifically designed
to minimize light pollution, ensuring the tree canopies remain undisturbed.

Along the ponds, robust bank vegetation, forest thickets, and cattails were
planted to provide shelter for insects. This vegetation also acts as a natural guide
for bats, leading them from one pond to another. To ensure year-round flowering,
a diverse selection of species was planted in the garden park, including
magnolias, prunus, cornus, davidia and paulownia. The planting scheme is a
blend of native and non-native species, strategically grouped by family to create
simultaneous blooming displays across the park.

The blooming season is extended through the use of a prairie planting mix in the
understory, featuring a gradient of colors from white, lavender, and blue to lilac,
purple, red, and pink. Furthermore, various hedges that mark the boundaries of
private gardens offer food, shelter, and nesting opportunities for insects and birds
throughout the year.

To preserve the green character of the garden park, hard surfaces were kept to a
minimum. Residents are encouraged to park on their own property. The only
substantial paved area is the parking lot at the shopping center. Even here,
thoughtful planting was integrated, with gleditsia triacanthos ‘shademaster’ and sophora japonica interspersed among the cobblestone-sized bricks.

Location
Ede, Gelderland
Principal
gemeente Ede, Dura Vermeer en BPF Vastgoed
Surface Area
4 ha
Design Year
2013-2017

Implementation
2018-2020

52.051236, 5.646068

See winners by years: 2024 / 2023 / 2022 / 2021 / 2020 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016

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