Undefined spaces

Drachten is the second largest city in Friesland with a centre made up mainly of shops that serve the regional area. A relatively new city, Drachten has no historic old town. The centre is built around an axis and cross axis, with the main shopping street as the north-south connection and the Drachstervaart and the Kaden as the east-west connection. The four adjacent quadrants have been partially filled in over the years but are characterised by many undefined spaces and the rear sides of buildings.
In 2022, a vision for the centre was drawn up with the aim of making the centre more versatile, recognisable, intense, attractive and social. De Zwarte Hond has translated this spatially into an area programme with concrete measures.

The west side of the Raadhuisplein
The aim is to boost the quality of the buildings on the west side of the square and to ensure a better relationship and proportionality with the Raadhuisplein. The west side offers space for homes above the shops. This will create more liveliness outside shopping hours, which will contribute to social safety and the quality of life in the centre.

This redevelopment or transformation can be accompanied by a better connection with the Zuiderbuurt via a new connection and/or an upgrade of the existing connections. The west side will preferably be developed by various parties with a smaller grain size than the buildings on the east side. We are focusing on high-quality architecture that enhances the experience value of the Raadhuisplein and creates an attractive environment for people to meet and spend time in the square. In the plinths, we are focusing on an attractive range of shops and restaurants.

The Zuiderbuurt and Noorderbuurt
To create a future-proof shopping street, we propose a profile divided into three zones: two spacious zones along the façades for pedestrians and a central zone with large green areas with integrated seating elements, space for taller trees and space for shop displays and terraces. Moving the trees more to the central zone gives them room to grow and the larger canopy can lower the perceived temperature in the Zuiderbuurt and Noorderbuurt during the warm summer months. This also makes it more attractive to visit the shopping streets during these months.

By adding greenery at eye level in the form of planting areas with integrated seating elements, we increase the quality of the experience and strengthen the leafy identity of the centre. In addition, these planting areas collect a significant amount of rainwater, reducing the burden on the drains during peak rainfall periods. The current brick pavement will be replaced by the fired-clay pavers that are already being used on the Raadhuisplein, among other places. The three zones are subtly indicated by the different connection, creating a peaceful streetscape where shops and greenery get all the attention.

Vogelzang
A coherent perspective is needed to be able to intervene in the short term, to assess private initiatives and to initiate public action. This is why we want to work together with stakeholders to create an integrated development perspective for Vogelzang that can be implemented in phases and that will allow this part of the city to function fully again.

The preferred urban development image is that of a fine-meshed network of streets and alleys, small urban blocks that create pedestrian circuits, appropriate building façades on the Noorderbuurt, and urban building façades towards Vogelzang of approximately five storeys, a vibrant inner area with facilities in the plinth, routes towards the shopping area also with facilities in the plinth, underground parking and an accent (in height or volume) on the northwest side of Vogelzang to mark the entrance to the centre.

In the preferred model, we focus on underground parking on two levels. This creates the possibility of adding an extensive new programme. In this phase, we are assuming approximately 13,500 m2 of non-residential programme (including shops, leisure, care and social facilities) and approximately 14,000 m2 of residential (on the upper floors). The redevelopment will remove existing ‘anti-qualities’ in the area, such as worn-out properties and unattractive public spaces, and add new functions, activity and quality.