Fluvial GardenCity Gardens, Almere Hout, The Netherlands (2005-2006)

The mission design intention for Ymere Stimuleringsprijs (Ymere Encouragement Award 2005) is to create a new and inno-vative neighborhood consisting of 30,000 houses in the polder. Bureau B + B wins the first prize with her entry. The inspira-tion for the design strategy is based on one hundred sites of archeological find-ings. Hundred ‘City Gardens’ will serve and protect the ‘substratum treasures’. Phase One of the design strategy is to implement one hundred tree nurseries, where each nursery grows one specific tree species. Once the trees have matured, they will be planted in the area, creating a unique identity and structure in each neighbor-hood. The City Gardens are connected by a 37km long linear park which is lined with poplar trees and ordered by an imaginary alphabetic grid. The letters from the diction-ary correspond with archeological terms. For example, the prototype garden is situ-

ated in the F-zone, where the ‘F’ stands for ‘ Fluvial Garden’ and literally means ‘formed by flowing water’. This concept of flow-ing water also connects all housing, their inhabitants and informs the complex water system. Rain water is collected from the roofs of the houses, streams to the linear park, filled water playgrounds and reach finally the Fluvial Garden. The housing den-sity increases around the city garden, which forms a closed border of courtyards, creat-ing an intimate atmosphere. Only two small pathways provide access to the garden. The housing facades are made from pressed silt and are shaped by water. Inside there is a water garden with cypress and stepping stones like lilies. After heavy rainfall the wa-ter level rises and some stepping stones are submerged in the water. Inlay the garden is transformed and no longer functions as public space, but as an event and exclusive feature for the inhabitants.

Type:Urban Design, Public Space, Park

Designteam:Bureau B+B stedebouw en landschapsarchitectuur

Program:30.000 dwellings, park

Surface:37 kilometers

Budget:-

Client:Woningcorporatie Ymere

2.0m 4.5m 2.0m

Salix alba

Salix babylonica

Salix caprea

Salix cinerea

Salix fragilis

Salix matsudana

Salix pentandra

archeological findings are surrounded by a retaining wall

future city gardens will be planted with trees

propogated trees are spread throughout the area.

In every garden a different tree species is cultivated. During the realization of the neighborhood, the trees are spread around the neighborhood.

Different willow species are planted along the residential streets, refering to the water and polder landscapes.

d

ab

e f

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

c

g

The urban design plan offers a range of socio-economic housing typologies. The typology is high density around the city garden.

A rain water system for filtration and storage connects the city garden with the surrounding housing.

low density

high density

low density

50 m

- 0.500.00

+1.00

section A-A

wet seasondry season

A changing paving pattern of “waterlilies” can be used as stepping stones. The height of the stepping stones changes, therefore, when it rains the “waterlilies” are submerged, transforming the garden.