Urban Renewal Hessenberg, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Throughout history the former orphanage on the Hessenberg has held a unique position in Nijmegen. Its buildings have always constituted an elusive, informal and regularly changing complex, located on a characteristic, sloping site. The urban plan for the new development takes this as a starting point and is set forth on three parallel planes that continue the urban fabric. The difference in levels is made manifest by the stairs and ramps running perpendicular to it.

The project consists of apartments, retail units and underground parking garages (total floor area: 24.071m²) on the site of the old orphanage (total site area: 9.500m²). Ten building blocks of varying size create an intricate network of alleyways, gardens and courtyards. The volumes differ in height, profile and building line. The building becomes the plinth, the plinth becomes the garden wall, the garden wall becomes the square, the square becomes a building again... The new complex can be read with the memory of the informality of its former immunity.

The architecture of the building blocks is in itself unspectacular and is subordinate to the quality of the public urban space. The careful selection of materials and details supports the experience of this space. The project is realized within the framework of Dutch residential construction. This framework is based on a far-reaching standardization of materials and techniques coupled with a restriction on the construction time, thus optimizing the cost/quality ratio.

The urban renewal of the Hessenberg can be placed in a tradition of gradual urban transformation, in which the past is a source of inspiration for the future. Sustainable building is understood here in its broadest sense; building further on a historical context, whereby a building’s lifetime surpasses its temporary use. True sustainability is much more than technology and is in the first place about timelessness.

Compact housing area between Hezelstraat and Kronenburgpark A unique new housing area has been realised on the former grounds of the Gelderlander site in the inner city of Nijmegen; the inner urban fabric has been repaired and about 190 new residences have been realised. Since 1991 various parties have worked on the development of an urban development plan; initially this plan was scrapped in 2001 by the Council of State because of the tremendous amount of resistance encountered. In 2004 the Municipality of Nijmegen made a fresh start with the project, in which the ambition was specifically expressed to preserve and enhance the culture-historical patterns and elements. MTD landschapsarchitecten was firstly commissioned to develop an urban development outline using an interdisciplinary team. Subsequent to this preliminary phase, AWG architecten and MTD landschapsarchitecten were commissioned by Heijmans Project Development to draw up an urban design plan and a development plan for the public space. The design The urban design plan for the Hessenberg can be described as a finely-grained pattern of compact residential blocks, streets, alleyways, inner courtyards and squares; this pattern is directly related to the historical pattern of streets which is present here and refers to the former identity of the area as immunity.

The height difference in the planning area of approximately 4 metres is accentuated and has been designed in 3 individual surface levels; the lowest level is along Hessenberg, then there's an intermediate level and lastly the level of the historical built-up area of the Orphanage. There's a playful mix between the building mass and these surface levels, in which two parking garages have also been fitted. Along Hessenberg this creates a plinth for public functions like galleries, a beauty salon and catering establishments. The monumental Orphanage is perceived in the urban design plan as a crystallization point of the new buildings; the building will be extended with new wings and a higher residential tower.

The public space has a plain design, in which the current difference in height from east to west is bridged by way of ramps, and for the north to south direction by way of stairs. The public area surrounding the Orphanage will have a convent-like atmosphere paved in a natural stone and enclosed by walled, semi-public gardens. The entrance square and the heart of the housing area with its broad natural stone stairs to the monumental building are in front of the Orphanage along Hessenberg. The square is considered a focal point for activities in the area and a natural theatre and meeting place. At the uppermost surface level there's a second square with a quietened character. This is where a work of art by Marinus Boezem will be placed; this ‘shadow of light’ will also act as a seating object.