Hofbogenpark
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Location | Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Year | 2019 - ongoing
Client | Municipality of Rotterdam, Dudok Group
Collaboration | DS Landschapsarchitecten, De Dakdokters
Status | Final design (approved) - start construction in 2025
Links | Press kit / Persmap
https://www.rotterdam.nl/hofbogenpark
Within a few years, Rotterdam will have a unique new park called Hofbogenpark. This public park is situated on the roof of the iconic railway viaduct called Hofbogen,which runs through four urban districts of Rotterdam. With a length of 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) and an average width of only 6 meters (20 feet), the Hofbogenpark will be the longest and narrowest roofpark in the Netherlands.
A public park on the roof of the Hofbogen
The Hofbogenpark invites people of all kinds for a pleasant walk at height through a lush, colorful and fragrant linear landscape. The park is a green lifeline that connects the densely populated neighborhoods around it. It offers its visitors a pleasant and welcoming space for strolling and lingering in an elevated landscape with flowing water and native vegetation, surrounded by treetops.
Platforms of different sizes are distributed throughout the park to make place for a wide variety of public activities. There are platforms for people to work, lunch, play, sport, perform, linger and relax. A number of balconies along the line provide the visitors with amazing vistas of the surrounding city. Access to the elevated Hofbogenpark is provided by both stairs and elevators.
Location: Spoorpunt
Location: Work perron ZoHO
Location: Ammersooisplein
Location: Spoorpunt
Balcony Zomerhofstraat
A nature-inclusive park
The park is not only open for people. Animals too are considered as clients of the Hofbogen park. They are also in need of space. Therefore, we also designed the park for them. The Hofbogenpark connects to a larger ecological corridor and brings nature deep into the heart of the city. Native planting and freshwater offer migration space, shelter, and food for bees, butterflies, toads, bats, birds, and hedgehogs. The last will have their own staircases to get on and off the roof.
Hofbogenpark welcomes both people and animals
The design emphasis on creating space for a biodiverse company of people, plants and animals.
Hofbogenpark has many guests. It is a biodiverse community.
Hofbogenpark by night
Also, railway sleepers return back to the park as bird baths, insect and bee hotels, and hiding spots for smaller animals
Location: Insulindestraat / Voorburgstraat
Location: ZOmerhofstraat
Location: Agniessebuurt / Vijverhofstraat
Plants Hofbogenpark
A climate-adaptive park
As a city in the Dutch delta, Rotterdam is vulnerable to climate change. Therefore, the city is an international frontrunner in sustainable water management. With the Hofbogenpark, Rotterdam will showcase next-generation climate-adaptive urban solutions. Rainwater from the immediate surroundings is collected and treated by natural processes (soil and helophytes) in the Hofbogenpark and stored in an underground aquifer. In times of drought and heat stress, the stored rainwater can be reused in the Hofbogenpark. Thanks to this circular water system, clean rainwater is always available. Tap water is not needed for the plants, fountains and water features in the park.
A water-purifying landscape
Location: Gordelweg
Location: Heer Bokelweg
Circulair water system Hofbogenpark
A network park
The elevated Hofbogenpark is part of a larger network park that will develop around the line in the coming years. In this network park, activities that need more space will be located, together with a substantial greening of the surrounding streetscape. A future connection over the highway to connect the open landscapes around Rotterdam with the city is also foreseen in the network park.
Hofbogenpark is well connected to the surroundings
Hofbogenpark has different atmospheres
Ecological system of Hofbogenpark
Current situation
Making the park together
The design for the Hofbogenpark was made by De Urbanisten in close collaboration with DS landscape architects and De Dakdokters. The project was commissioned by the Municipality of Rotterdam and Dudok Group, the owner of the “Hofbogen“. The community of the surrounding districts has been involved from the beginning of the project. The design has been approved by the municipality; building will start in 2025.
