Competitions/ Do Like Zocher (2005)

Since it was established in 1908 the presence of the railway line connecting to Amsterdam represents a strong barrier causing the subdivision of the study area into two discrete contexts. Similar effect has Prinsen Bolwerken for the Bolwerken park area. This assumption inspires different approaches in the design of the urban development of the northern and southern portions of the Gonetstraat / Bolwerken study area. The reestablishment of consolidated paths as well as the introduction of new ones, the careful adjustment of the building scale could represent an exceptional premise for a mixed use town centre in this extremely promising area of Haarlem Nieuwstad.

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Southern Study Area

Several distinct issues have been addressed in the design of the development of the Southern Study Area: Existing relevant buildings are maintained and integrated in the function zoning program: Hal - public facilities, van Duyvenbode - catering, Hensen - own front door housing.
Some of the existing buildings in the area under condition are integrated in the zoning program as well, with the mixed function presently established.
Relationship with the river Spaarne, railway and Friese Varkenmarkt: Six story buildings with small scale offices at the ground floor and stacked flat apartments at the upper floors are placed on the frontage line of Friese Varkenmarkt, shaped in plan to allow space to the future light rail and configured on elevation to represent strong visual impact of the new Gonnetstraat area town center viewed from the other side of Spaarne and the railway line from Amsterdam. The building development of the Southern Study Area is mainly on the frontage line of the existing roads. The internal courtyards are considered "hidden" gardens crossed by public green pedestrian footpaths.
Housing Requirements: Except for the stacked flats buildings all the housing units in the study area have independent access, duplex apartment can have separate floor entrances in favour of children independence.
Density: a value of 1 for the FSI has been used for the zoning program.
Parking is located underground with access from Friese Varkenmarkt and Parklaan. Reduction of the noise pollution due to the 40m interruption of the acoustic buffles near the van Duyvenbode premises is reflected by the presence of a 4 story small scale office building at the tip of the area under condition. Pedestrian connection with the Northern Study Area integrated in the design of the Bolwerken footpath (underpass
at Bolwerklaan and redefined edge of spaarne under the railway line bridge). The starting point for the design of the
footpath is the original zocher's green structure.
Building Scale: Heights of the buildings have been carefully scaled down as allowed by the assumed FSI value of 1, harmonized with the context by a smooth degrading landscape over the banks of the river Spaarne, up to the green Villa Park. Flexible Building: High plints are used in the intervention area.
School Expansion: Two distinct facilities: a gym and a building for the new classrooms, facing each other and both located in the proximity of the existing school. The new sewage pump could be integrated, the design of the facility takes into account the requirement regarding the location of openings with the indicated distance of 10m from an optimal point of odor emission.
Materials Envisaged: Painted metal panels, glass, local wood.

Northern Study Area

A green park and well established footpaths are present in the Northern Study Area and the relationship with water is strong (Spaarne - Karpersloot - Bolwerk). The park is already a pleasant place to visit, the only interference with full enjoyment of the present green / water environment is represented by the cut of Prinsen Bolwerken. The proposal of relocating the road underground would allow the reunification of the different sub-areas in which the Bolwerken is presently subdivided (Karpersloot at southern portion and Bolwerk at north) and contribute to the continuity of the Parklaan - Ripperdapark - Bolwerken footpath structure originally by Zocher. Small scale offices are then located in the proximity of Karpersloot on an existing footpath to define the architectural scale of the intervention and take advantage of the exceptional environmental qualities of the site. The density of the development here has been carefully calibrated with the prominent function of park.
The intention here in Bolwerken is to conserve as many existing vegetation features as possible. A panoramic 8 story hotel + restaurant building is also located at the intersection of Friese Varkenmarkt and the Prinsen Bolwerken coming out of the tunnel through the artificial topography.

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Jan David Zocher Dutch Landscape Architect (1791-1870)

Jan David Zocher
Dutch Landscape Architect (1791-1870)