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AN ALTERED SPATIAL STRUCTURE
The progressive transformation of the historical fortifications has perhaps altered their extraordinary spatial potential. A
multitude of spaces of different forms, characters and uses have developed punctually according to opportunity, and each
space has evolved according to its own logic. This accumulation has developed to the detriment of the overall spatial scale:
that of open space previously provided by the «glacis» and water which encompassed the historic centre.
Today, the banks, often inaccessible, illegible, appear almost as those of a charming yet improbable river. There is no space
for recoil, no breathing space. The space is not a whole. The water reads as an extremity, a boundary, and not a wide open
space, so necessary in a city with such a dense urban fabric, which lacks any public spaces of ample dimensions.
SEARCHING FOR THE SCALE OF THE EMPTINESS
Redefine this void, and recreate a scale is the key concern of our proposal. In no case is it to make a formal historic
restoration. The objective is to find the qualities of a great empty periphery which appears to us as a spatial opportunity
open to many uses. It offers above all a space of recoil; it creates a distance to the city which supports a mental image that
we may seize.
Naturally many aspects of the future park must be developed; physical, programmatic, events based aspects, issues related
to governance. This can only take place with all the stakeholders involved and with time, not possible within the frame of this
short consultation. Nevertheless we are convinced that a spatial evolution can both cause and determine all other actions.
THE SCULPTING OF THE VEGETATION
The spatial re-composition we propose is essentially the sculpting of the mass of trees and the remodeling of the slopes
and topography. The sculpting of the vegetation consists of cutting, pruning, transplanting and planting trees in order to
compose masses and voids, to reveal where possible open areas sloping to the canal such as the historical «glacis». We
realize the difficulty of this exercise, however we are persuaded that it constitutes an indispensable preliminary step towards
the creation of the Singelpark.
To avoid perversion of the concept or any desecration of the site, several rules should be followed:
- The sculpting of the vegetation mass is a global vision for the park that unites all future transformations and all new
projects with each and every stakeholder.
- The sculpting of the existing vegetation privileges the planting of trees. We shall plant more trees than that which are
cut. The careful study and selection of trees shall seek to preserve the prominent and beautiful existing trees and will follow
thorough consultation. The preserved trees will be revealed and magnified as individual monumental trees.
- The sculpting of the vegetation mass is a reconstruction that is not a historical restoration. The intention is not to
plagiarize the historic fortifications, but to play on the qualities of open space adjacent to the canal, with setback distances
and the evidence of the emptiness and of forms.
- The sculpting of the vegetation mass is not complicated to accomplish.
- The sculpting of the vegetation mass is a prerequisite for the future Singelpark.
SCULPTING THE VEGETATION: THE SCALE OF EMPTINESS
LANDFORM : TYPICAL SECTION
Our proposals may be resumed by a typical section.
Exterior bank : creation of a ample continuous tree lined promenade
A new traffic plan of the city, can provide the opportunity to in time reconfigure the outside edge of the canal. Pragmatic
studies which have been conducted in many European cities have ring roads that become a succession of segments related
to one-way wider circuits. We propose that one lane of cars would be freed up, providing enough space for both maintaining
the car parking spaces for the neighbourhood residents and a beautiful and spacious continuous promenade opened up for
the benefit of both pedestrians and cyclists.
Interior bank : in the image of a «glacis»
The transformation here concerns creating wide open spaces wherever possible along the inner bank. This means on the
one hand, re-qualifying existing parks and on the other hand, transforming some neglected areas or industrialised and
service areas.
Canal side
The aim is to amplify the magnitude of the open spaces created. In order to achieve this, the spatial scale of reference must
be minimized: very few roads, no fixed furniture between the majestic trees.
City side
The «glacis» is supported against a densely wooded vegetation mass which bonds with the various facades of the built
historic centre. All furniture and fixtures including playgrounds and the main pedestrian pathways will be installed at the
redefined woodland edge .

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Lammermarkt
• The surface car parking is re-located underground.
• Circulation is revised in order to create a public space
central to the cultural district.
• The existing car park becomes a grassed open park.
• Grassed slopes are re-sculpted at the waters edge.
• The trees and shrubs around the windmill are
selectively sculpted open up views of this architectural
feature.
• The double avenue of plane trees is extended west
along the Lammermarkt road and newly planted trees
create a dense green backdrop to the park.
Museum Park
• The waters edge of the park is redefined as the central
area of a park system and not the back (behind the scenes)
of the museum
• The connection along the bank to Lammermarkt is
made clear
• The slope of the bank is reprofiled
• Trees are selectively opening up the bank
Morspoort
• Clarification of the spatial structure
• Relocation of the car parking
• Cutting of hedges and shrub layers between the
public plaza and the museum site
Marepoortkade
• The mineral quayside in brick is retained.
• The urban experience of this area of the park is
assumed.
• The horse chestnut trees on the quay are removed.
Nieuwe energy building and power station site
• A pedestrian walkway creates not only a connection
but a usable open deck adjacent to the industrial buildings
at the water’s edge.
• Access and fencing of the factory is reorganised to
allow a continuous water’s edge promenade.
• Where possible open areas of park are created at
the water’s edge.
• The poplar trees at the water’s edge within the factory
grounds are sculpted.
• The dam which currently obstructs circulation on the
canal is removed and replaced by a bridge.
• The grounds of the power station are densely planted
including car parking areas to reinforce the facade of the
city.
Huigpark
• The careful transplanting of recently planted trees
opens up the park to the water’s edge and insures the
open space for generations to come.
• Car parking relocated and compensated for
elsewhere.
• The playground and all furniture including Bike
parking is relocated and reintegrated into clearings within
the planted areas of the park in a more coherent way.
Blekerspark
• Car parking is relocated or integrated to densely
planted area
• Playgrounds, furniture and paths are integrated to
• Oak trees on the canal edge are cut
• Trees and the cities edge of the site are preserved
and reinforced
• A connection to canton the cemetery
• Where possible open areas of park are created at
the water’s edge.
• The poplar trees at the water’s edge within the factory
grounds are sculpted.
• The dam which currently obstructs circulation on the
canal is removed and replaced by a bridge.
• The grounds of the power station are densely planted
including car parking areas to reinforce the facade of the
city.
Zijilpoort Cemetery
• Creation of a pathway at the water’s edge which
circumvents the cemetery
• Selective cutting of the existing trees opens up the
water’s edge
Harbour
• Creation of a flexible connection between the Zijlpoort
and the Ankerpark which maintains and signals access to
the harbour area.
Ankerpark
• A pathway situated on the crest of the slope profits
views out across the canal.
• The east and west facing slopes are redefined
creating an urban landscape beach.
• The double alignment of horse chestnut trees is
removed opening up the water’s edge
• Selective pruning and replanting of the existing trees
at the citys edge redefines a wooded boundary
• The car park areas within the city limit are planted to
reinforce the dense urban fabric.
Meelfabriek
• The development of this site creates a continuous
access at the waters edge
• The site permits a certain permeability of pedestrian
circulation
• The planting of the courtyards allows for a continuity
of the park experience through the site
Katoenpark
• The double alignment of horse chestnut trees is cut
down opening up the waters edge
• Additional trees are planted within the playground
providing shade and shelter
• The car park areas within the city limit are planted to
reinforce the dense urban fabric
Groenesteeg Cemetery
• The quite and overgrown cemetery ambience is
preserved
• No additional connections are made
• The canal edge is liberated by selective cutting of
trees.
• The trees within the cemetery are preserved
Kaarsenmakersplein
• Connecting bridge created across the Nieuwe Rijn
• The Levendaal road crossroad area is incorporated
into the singelpark by the planting of this large roadway
intersection
• The Plantage gardens are preserved and enhanced
Plantsoen Park
• The successful park atmosphere here is preserved
and enhanced
• Pathways are redefined woodland edge
• Shrubs and low level planting are cleared to open up
the park
• Additional planting reinforces the inner facade of the
city
Jan Van Houtkade and Boisotkade
• Car parking is reduced
• The roadway intersection at the Doezastraat crossing
has been incorporated into the park
• The private gardens are preserved and encouraged
• The hedges at the inner bank are cut to liberate the
south facing lawn sloping to the water’s edge
• The trees are selectively cut and pruned to open up
this part of the public park
Leiden Observatory and the Hortus Botanicus
• The public park connection is continued through
adjacent to the potential development site to the
Binnenvestgracht
• AnentrancetotheBotanicgardenandtheobservatory
and café is created here
• The banks of the observatory site and the botanic
garden are selectively pruned to open up the waters edge
• The trees in front of the greenhouses of the hortus
botanicus are selectively cut giving visual access to the
building and inviting to also creating visiblity of this building
from the opposite bank
Quayside of the Lipsius building
• The quay is liberated and integrated to the singelpark
chain of open spaces
Arsenaalplein
• The mineral aspect of the public square and the
upper and lower quay spatial organisation is retained
• The flexible and sports uses of this open public
square on the waterfront are maintained
• Furniture and play equipment is reorganised to
maximise the use of the space
• The trees at the canals edge are cut to open up the
space, the trees at the city edge are retained
Rembrandtpark and Park de Put
• The boat rental is enhanced and the multiplication
of rental sites for the boats may be considered in order to
multiply this transport mode
• Selective cutting of trees within the park is considered
to open up views
• Management of the park is improved
Singelpark future vegetation structure
1535 Total number of trees
910 Trees to be planted or transplanted
48ha hectares of continuous park
create emptiness
promenade - canal - park
6 km of continuous pedestrian access
reinforce the facade
richness of each part (sub area)
Existing vegetation structure
1050 Total number of existing trees
425 Trees selected to be cut
625 Trees selected to be preserved