From graceless car park to a warm square, connected to its history and looking forward to the future. By means of an intensive participation process and responding to the natural relief, the monumental Lebuinus church has been given a ‘soft’ plinth, a pedestal with a cosy atmosphere, matching the warm hue of the church. Groups of trees with terraces, a water element with spouts and loose chairs provide this ‘conviviality’. And in between a beautiful void with subtle details that does justice to the ‘grandeur’ of the majestic church and surrounding historic buildings. Grandeur and conviviality go hand in hand.
The Hanseatic city of Deventer was founded at the site of the overwhelmingly large Lebuinus church by the city’s patron St. Lebuinus. A historic cemetery turned car park, the cluttered Grote Kerkhof square lacked this grandeur. No cohesion, decorated separately and the Lebuinus Square bare and uninviting. Until 2019, the Lebuinus Square was used as a car park. As the municipality wanted to create more cohesion between the squares and a different use, several designs were made by different offices. But staunch resistance from residents and stakeholders due to lack of involvement, site knowledge and historic reference blocked construction. We were given the task to make a design that could count on broad support and that would create co-ownership, and thus be realised and experienced! One that brings back the atmosphere with a clear connection to the past of this former churchyard. A great opportunity to give the square another purpose, a place to meet, rest and play.
The task given by the Municipality was to redesign the Lebuinus Square in a way that it forms a unity with the old city centre, invites people to meet and stay and is accessible to everyone. All this taking into account the intensive program for the square: sunny café terraces, addition of greenery, appropriate lighting, large event space (fair/market), rainwater catchment and a water surface for cooling and playing. And taking into account the 40.000 graves underground, budget, historical identity and cherished relief of the site.
We intensively involved residents and local entrepreneurs in our design participation process. In the early stages we formulated the motto of ‘grandeur and conviviality’ together, which helped us as a leading principle during several difficult design choices.
Responding to the natural relief, the monumental Lebuinus church has been given a ‘soft’ plinth, a pedestal with a cosy atmosphere, matching the warm hue of the church. Groups of trees with terraces, a water element with spouts and loose chairs provide this ‘conviviality’. And in between a beautiful void with subtle details that does justice to the ‘grandeur’ of the majestic church and surrounding historic buildings.
The existing mishmash of brick pavers has been mixed through and reused. The square’s warm-toned gravel infiltrates water; both the church and adjacent roofs have been disconnected and drain directly into the pavement. Extra trees and the water element offer cooling as well as entertainment for children, while terraces are better situated in the sun. Wide curved bands subtly run from the square into the city centre.
The site’s rich history is expressed in tree rings inscribed with poems, a locally sand-cast brass water element and lighting masts, which refer to the halo and staff of St. Lebuinus, founder of Deventer. Paving with brick and natural stone enhances the mediaeval look. The square better connects to the historic buildings around as well as adjacent squares.
By involving residents and other stakeholders intensively in the design process, a widely supported design emerged. Taking into account the square’s various functions, a spatial design was chosen, a quiet emptiness with a friendly atmosphere. No blobs of greenery either, less is more! To loud applause, this design was presented to the public in the town hall.
Water management is an important and complex part of the square. An ingenious, stepped watercourse had to be fitted in so that peak rainfall does not cause flooding as water drains towards the river IJssel. Rainwater pipes have been disconnected from the sewers, and under the square lie drains, water storage and deep infiltration pits that retain rainwater. Inserting all this was challenging due to the underground archeology.
Height differences are overcome without edges, making the entire square accessible for disabled people in wheelchairs. Meeting places on the square, such as the chairs near the water element, promote person-to-person encounters. Accessible day and night, the square and facades are well lit due to a solid lighting plan. The Lebuinus Square; grandeur and conviviality finally go hand in hand.
Client: Municipality of Deventer
Other landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape: –
Architecture offices involved in the design: -
BoschSlabbers (landscape design), STIPO (perception research), StudioDL (lighting architect), Rots maatwerk (construction water element), Herman Evers & Bram de Borst (texts tree rings), StadLandWater (specifications), Industrielicht (lighting construction expertise) Bart Ros (images), Jeroen Musch (images) and the municipality and people of Deventer (local expertise)
Location: Grote Kerkhof 41, 7411 KV Deventer
Design year: 2020-2022
Year Completed:2023
