SWA/BALSLEY COMPLETES THE NELSON MANDELA PARK VISION PLAN
The winning Master Plan reclaims land from one of Rotterdams biggest harbor and turn this into a vibrant urban parkland for the lively and densely populated neighboorhoods near South Maashaven. The park is designed by SWA/Balsley and the park is identified by the City as one of the Big Five park projects, the conceptual plan provides for much-needed central neighborhood and civic open space in the city’s South Maashaven district.
This post-industrial area along the harbor was in the past a home for many immigrant population, people from all over the world worked hard for happiness and succes in this now multi-cultural milieu. An active community engagement process ensured that the new park design will be responsive to its heterogeneous stakeholders and provide a catalyst for future development in this fast-growing urban district.
Inspired by the natural hydrology and tidal vegetation systems of the river, Nelson Mandela Park Master Plan celebrates the maritime heritage of Rotterdam while harnessing the coast for the benefit of future generations. The holistic, social, cultural and ecological driven approach includes a vision for the Culture Campus that will give the park a unique identity within Rotterdam’s park system and waterfront. The park is surrounded by dense urban city districts, with few green spaces for Maashaven residents to meet or enjoy the harbor. Working in concert with the City and Arup, the SWA/Balsley team envisioned a plan that will serve these adjacent neighborhoods by providing a seven-hectare destination comprised of naturalized shoreline, marsh habitats, multi-purpose lawns, tree groves, sculpted knolls and overlooks from which to view urban life, the historic Maassilo building and the Harbor beyond. The important park connection to public transit invites diverse groups from far and wide to gather and engage.
Strategically, the park integrates with the City’s flood defense levee that runs adjacent to the east side for a seamless connection to surrounding neighborhoods. Further, this park edge will align with the new levee promenade along the prominent Pretorialaan commercial boulevard creating a welcoming gateway for the regular stream of everyday users.
The design team strongly advocated for a large enough size to accommodate more community programming that emerged from the public outreach. The Master Plan features multiple flexible lawn areas for community events, all-age play grounds in a shaded tree grove, a cultural plaza, overlooks, and marsh walk. The water’s edge was conceived as a dynamic experience and features innovative tidal pools, wetland habitats, and integrates a local water taxi station and pavilion. The design team has leveraged topographic shifts for flood protection into tidal habitat shelves, walkways, and revealing views that are integral to this unique experience.
About SWA/BALSLEY
SWA/Balsley creates inspiring, provocative, resilient public spaces that enhance communities and enrich people’s lives. The places we create reflect our deep commitment to design excellence, and our belief that landscape architecture plays an instrumental role in forging a culture that connects people with places…and with each other. Our landscape architects, planners and urban designers hail from two internationally renowned firms—SWA Group and Thomas Balsley Associates, which joined together in 2016 to practice from New York City. SWA/Balsley’s projects range from large-scale master plans to small urban spaces; from urban waterfronts and major parks to institutional, residential, and corporate landscapes. Learn more at https://www.swabalsley.com/