The design of Heerenveen's main shopping area no longer meets the needs and demands of today. In close collaboration with a large group of residents and entrepreneurs, a design for the redevelopment was created in several steps, based on the principles of the Centrumvisie. The goal was to focus heavily on increasing greenery, creating an attractive shopping district, and transforming the town center into a beautiful showcase for Heerenveen.
The redevelopment of the town centre is a complex task, requiring the integration of the needs and demands of residents, market vendors, business owners, and the municipality. There are many competing spatial claims in the area, all of which ideally need to be accommodated in the new plan.
The approach is to restore a human scale through the addition of greenery and thoughtful material use. Where possible, given the constraints of the underground infrastructure (cables and pipelines), we are adding green spaces along Dracht and Sieversstraat. This breaks up the long profiles of these streets with green zones. Diagonal lines in the brick paving encourage foot traffic to move diagonally across the street, rather than in a straight line. By adding custom seating elements in many areas, we aim to increase the area's appeal, encouraging people to visit more often and stay longer.
The Gemeenteplein (Town Square) follows the same principles but maintains its own distinctive character. The existing terraces will remain but will be beautifully integrated into the design and greenery. A water feature on the square will bring life and provide cooling to the space.
