Exemplary Remodelling: Rotterdam
A Boulevard as Opposed to a Thoroughfare
The redesign of Boulevard Coolsingel by the Rotterdam landscape architecture firm West 8 has given the road new appeal as a shopping hub as a place for residents to gather. The space dedicated to traffic has been reduced, freeing up space for a pedestrianised street which is safe for cyclists. Its asymmetrical layout allows the road to be used for different functions, also as an event space: the large cycle path can be used for the annual summer carnival, demonstrations, and the Rotterdam marathon, while the whole area lends itself to parties and celebrations. The planting of five new rows of plane trees have transformed the Coolsingel into a grand boulevard. Various public artworks round off the design. The new Coolsingel was opened on 10th April 2021.
Existing street space
Coolsingel is the city’s main boulevard, created at the beginning of the 20th century. However, its postwar-redesign, entirely oriented towards cars, increasingly failed to meet the needs of today.
To change or leave in place?
Cyclists and pedestrians have plenty of space along the new Coolsingel promenade with cycle lanes in both directions. The tram and subway remained unchanged.
A “City Lounge”
The city commissioned the “West 8” landscape architecture firm to replan the street as a “City Lounge” instead of thoroughfare.
Before and after
The comparison of the former street profile (above) and the new Coolsingel at the site of the World Trade Centre (WTC Rotterdam) and stock market building shows the benefits of the redesign for pedestrians.
State-of-the-art urban technology
The new Coolsingel is very green thanks largely to sophisticated underground urban technology. For example, the area under the cycle lanes serves as a water reservoir and root zone.
Office
As an internationally active landscape architecture and urban development practice, “West 8” plans projects in different cities around the world that focus entirely on remodelling. The firm’s designs address the closely interconnected issues of climate change, urban development and infrastructure.