Hortus Veemarkt Utrecht

A team consisting of Strootman landschapsarchitecten, Ooms Bouw & Ontwikkeling, FARO Architecten and Beumer Garantiemakelaars won the competition for the Veemarkt building plot C in Utrecht at the end of 2015. The winning design is a closed block with an inner world full of atmosphere. The layout and management of the enclosed garden are attuned to the wishes of the residents. Two evenings were organised with the residents at the beginning of 2016, where models, reference illustrations and questionnaires enabled Strootman to discover what those wishes are. The residents favoured a gently sloping ground level with a natural, luxuriant layout featuring flowers and flowering trees. They also indicated that they preferred to put the management in the hands of a third party.

The sloping inner world of the enclosed garden comprises four hillocks, in which the underground parking facility has been incorporated. The vegetation is luxuriant and consists of three parts: perennials on the roof of the parking facility, plants which like humidity in the wadi, and flowers and bulbs in a third zone. A gravel path winds between the hillocks. It connects with the clinker path that runs around the garden and provides access to the private back gardens. Between those private gardens and the enclosed garden is a broad mixed hedge 1.20 metres high combined with a screen covered with plants. There is lighting all around the enclosed garden from the garden sheds and entrances.

A team for the elaboration of the design and the implementation of the enclosed garden includes Van Ginkel for the plants, FARO architecten and Strootman landschapsarchitecten.