On July 24, 2018, the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands approved Rotterdam-based architectural firm MVRDV’s plan to create a new urban neighborhood called Hyde Park. The redevelopment project will repurpose the site of the outdated office office complex called Beukenhorst-West, which will now be transformed into an attractive urban district.
Located right next to Hoofddorp station, this transit-oriented redevelopment it will be just four minutes by train from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and twelve minutes from Amsterdam’s business district in Zuidas.
Hyde Park will become a popular residential area in the Amsterdam region, due to its central location and MVRDV’s vision introducing high quality housing and commercial facilities. This will create an important urban development for the area of Beukenhorst-West, located between the train station and centre of Hoofddorp which has remained until recently, a desolate office park with vacant spaces.
“Hyde Park will become an attractive place for meeting and staying, a welcoming entrance to the city centre. Soon, the buildings will be visible from afar, like a rock landscape in the polder, where the green of the park seems to run through the green roofs and inner gardens,” says Winy Maas, co-founder of MVRDV. “Hyde Park anticipates Hoofddorp to become the next hub inside the metropolitan region of Amsterdam.”
By creating high-quality buildings with sound-proof indoor gardens, a sunny and new green city district is achieved. A key feature of MVRDV’s vision for Hyde Park are the ‘cuts’ in the buildings which result in maximum sunlight and park views for residents. Diversity is further achieved by dividing building blocks into various “Hoofddorp houses”.
The masterplan contributes to upgrading Hoofddorp into a resilient and vibrant city where work, living and recreation coexist. The development of Hyde Park compacts the centre and prevents the development of expansion districts, which means Haarlemmermeer can remain green.
Hyde Park will be integrated into its surroundings, and its original polder structure will be restored. The shopping center are will be better-connected to aid walking and cycling routes among the shopping center, the park and the station.
Each avenue will have its own character, whilst the main street is designed as a boulevard with wide tree-lined sidewalks and restaurants. Cycling, walking and socializing are a key feature of the ground areas, a car-free zone.
A group of architectural firms have been appointed for the development of the blocks, including Barcode, Team V, MVSA, Manuelle Gautrand and Studio Nine Dots. MVRDV will supervise the architecture as well as the public space design, in consultation with the municipality. MVRDV previously designed masterplans for Barcode Oslo, Almere Floriade, and the urban plan and an apartment complex in Bastide Niel Bordeaux, which is currently under construction. Hyde Park is a joint venture of Snippe Projecten B.V. and IC Netherlands B.V.
All images courtesy of MVRDV.