Aarplein

Together with FARO architecten and Smit’s Bouwbedrijf, we have drawn up a plan for a residential complex on the present Aarplein beside the river the “Kromme Aar”. What is today a car park will shortly accommodate 100 dwellings and a multifunctional square with room for 180 parking lots, water catchment, a weekly market and annual events. The assignment is for a very large square, which we consider too large for this location. By dividing the square into two parts, each with an atmosphere of its own, we can create attractive areas that fit in with the scale and route network of the centre by the smart placement of dwellings and a new ‘urban bench’ for Alphen. This division also has advantages with regard to the program: by creating a larger as well as a smaller space, you can use them independently of one another for activities or events. Moreover, thanks to the route design, parking is possible on both squares independently of one another as well.

The small square is the Iepenplein in the shade of elm trees and paved with clinkers in the Alphen style. The residential alleys share this atmosphere, with a narrow profile in fired material for the car. The new Aarplein is the protagonist of the plan. It is given a clear identity by the hardstone border and its sunken position, which provides water catchment during heavy showers and forms a wonderful skating rink in the middle of the centre if the winter is cold enough.

If the Kromme Aar is made navigable again in the future, space has been reserved for a small mooring stage on the water edge of the “Kromme Aar”. This would make the Aarplein even livelier and enable a direct connection with the countryside. The Alphen local authority considered our plan the most suitable for the location, but unfortunately they decided to go for the financially favourable option of our competitor.