HOUTHAVENS BOTANIQUE
PUBLIC PROJECTS
2500m2
HOUTHAVENS BOTANIQUE
IS IN THE MAKING!
Over the coming months, Erwin Stam Tuinstudio, Ebben Nurseries and real estate company Heren2 will work together to transform a vacant lot on Minervahavenweg in Amsterdam into an idyllic green setting. Providing a unique little piece of nature where land and water meet,Houthavens Botanique will highlight the importance and power of outdoor space.
Houthavens en Heren2
The Houthavens district on the banks of the IJ near the Spaarndammerbuurt neighbourhood, west of Amsterdam Central Station, was once a set of trading ports where timber from Scandinavia, Africa, Asia and Russia was stored. Today, it is the new district of Amsterdam. Some twenty years ago, Heren2, a real estate company that specialises in the redevelopment of large urban areas, revitalised the port area with new offices and homes. The next step was to optimise and green the public space. This led Heren2 to launch an initiative that will transform a vacant lot on Minervahavenweg into a community garden. Erwin Stam Tuinstudio and Ebben Nurseries have developed a ten-year plan for the creation of Houthavens Botanique: a green oasis for public use.
Erwin Stam Tuinstudio and Ebben Nurseries
Dirk Ebben of Ebben Nurseries has a clear vision of nature-based experiences: “We like to connect people with nature and work to create a world where everyone can immerse themselves in a green setting in their local environment.” Garden designer Erwin Stam believes the ultimate outdoor space promotes a sense of depth and enrichment: “I want the space to feel peaceful so people enjoy being there. It’s a chance to get away from it all and take their mind off things for a while. That way they can appreciate the healing powers of a garden. A well-designed outdoor space should be restorative at every level.” Ebben and Stam have worked together on other projects inspired by their shared conviction that a balanced combination of greenery and stone contributes to people’s well-being. Like Heren2, in creating Houthavens Botanique they want to enhance the quality of public space.
Houthavens Botanique
A new seed has been planted on a site where ships once docked and timber was sold on. The name pays tribute to this history: ‘Houthavens’ means ‘timber ports’. ‘Botanique’ derives from the Ancient Greek and literally means ‘to feed’, but at Houthavens Botanique it takes on the symbolic meaning of ‘to inspire’. Being outdoors among budding flowers and lush plants, surrounded by swaying trees, basking in sun or shade, enjoying the feel of the breeze and the sounds of birdsong and lapping water, Houthavens Botanique is the perfect place to pause, ground and recharge. A place for people to connect not only with others, but above all with themselves.
Site concept and narrative
Like the pocket parks in New York and Paris, as a small green haven in an urban environment, Houthavens Botanique has a big impact on the character of the district. Yet over the next decade, Houthavens Botanique aspires to be more than just a climate-friendly community garden that supports sustainability and biodiversity. This contemporary park will create an inspiring connection between nature and art. The mural by Berlin-based art collective Innerfields is the first step in this direction. A few months from now, while sitting on specially designed park benches or strolling along the paths, visitors will also be able to enjoy a variety of accessible (pop-up) art initiatives. These small creative interventions (exhibitions, music, picnics…) will highlight the multipurpose and socio-educational function of Houthavens Botanique, which can serve as an example for other public space projects in Amsterdam. Karin van Lieverloo of KaaT | Kunst & teksT will help shape the new site narrative.
Friends of Houthavens Botanique:
In-Lite Global
Schellevis sierbestrating
Mobilane Global
Modeste Herwig beplantingsadvies
DKM-Bouw
