‘Having green areas in the public realm not only looks good and feels fresh, it’s also a solution for keeping your feet dry in the city. In Zuidas, there’s only limited space for green areas, so we joined forces with Waternet and installed a ‘water-retardant green strip’ in the new Kop Zuidas residential neighbourhood. The strip absorbs rainwater and slows it down, allowing it to drain away properly to the sewer below’, says designer Cyrus Clark.
Child-friendly strip?
There were some local questions about whether the strip is child-friendly. ‘I understand that question, but took account of it in my design by adding an upright edge.’ He continues: ‘The container is only 35 cm deep and has a soft bed because of the plants. You keep a close eye on small children anyway and there’s no danger for older children. In any case, it’s not constantly full of water, except after a very heavy downpour.’
Clark took inspiration for the water-retardant green strip from Portland (USA): ‘In Portland, it rains much more often and more heavily than here and the local municipality have installed it across the city. We’ve approached our design very differently, but were certainly able to learn from them. The water-retardant green strip is now complete, so be sure to come and take a look!’
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