With almost one-fifth of Zwolle’s population and its own railway station, Stadshagen is comparable in size to a medium-sized municipality such as Meppel. This calls for a lively and fully-fledged town centre. De Zwarte Hond won the design competition for the expansion of Stadshagen shopping centre and is responsible for both the urban design plan and the architecture. The plan brings together housing, workplaces, retail, hospitality and community facilities.
An additional supermarket and new shops expand the range of amenities, while a varied housing programme, from social housing to assisted living, makes the centre accessible to different groups. The community-oriented programme gives the area added meaning. The Stadsfoyer brings together a range of facilities, including Stadkamer library, the neighbourhood service centre, meeting spaces, childcare and care and support services. A new public square and a generous, publicly accessible rooftop garden further transform the centre into a place to spend time, meet others and find inspiration. The new complex, De Stadsmaker, consists of several building volumes on a shared base that houses the supermarket. A lively shopping arcade connects the new development with the existing shopping centre. On the roof of the base, a lush rooftop garden creates an unexpected and intimate meeting place. The Stadsfoyer connects the various functions and pedestrian routes. A strategically positioned pavilion in the shopping arcade provides additional shelter from the wind.