Greenery and Water
Greenery and Water
A responsible development includes 'red, green and blue'. Alongside the red of the bricks, there must be the green of trees and grass, and the blue of water. Canals, trees, parks, gardens, lakes and ponds can make even a densely-built area like Zuidas extremely attractive. If due attention is devoted to 'blue' and 'green', Zuidas will indeed become Amsterdam's top location for international commerce and a high-quality residential environment. But water and greenery have another purpose: they contribute to good water management in such a dense, paved district.
The buildings (existing and planned) and open spaces in Zuidas lead to compaction of the subsoil. To ensure that rainwater is absorbed, stored and transported away, there must be adequate surface water as well. Two canals – the Irenegracht and the new De Boelegracht – will form the backbone of the water management system for Zuidas. Lakes, ponds, water features and 'green roofs' also have an important part to play and have been included in the plans.
In addition to the canals, large basins under the pitches of Buitenveldert Sports Club (Knowledge Quarter) and AFC (Ravel) will provide additional water storage capacity in the event of particularly heavy rainfall. Improved water management in Amstelpark and the Gijsbrecht van Aemstelpark will ensure that the polders (dikes) around Zuidas continue to provide adequate defence against flooding. This is important, since to the south of the A10, Zuidas lies around 0.70 metres below sea level, while to the north it is 0.70 metres above sea level.
Zuidas devotes considerable attention to greenery and public areas. Small parks, gardens, squares and roof terraces can be seen everywhere. In Mahler4, for example, some 30% of the available roofspace has been given over to roof gardens, with plants and shrubs which not only attract butterflies and birds but serve to regulate the run-off of rainwater. The balance between urbanization and green space is particularly evident in the plans for Beethoven, Ravel and Vivaldi. Beatrixpark and the planned Amaliapark will provide additional green space to the Zuidas .
Many people think that Zuidas is all about concrete and business. Nothing could be further from the truth: there are some beautiful little oases of greenery where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Beatrixpark is particularly welcoming, while the Amstelscheg and the Amsterdam Bos woodlands are within a few minutes walk.
Greenery and Water
A responsible development includes 'red, green and blue'. Alongside the red of the bricks, there must be the green of trees and grass, and the blue of water. Canals, trees, parks, gardens, lakes and ponds can make even a densely-built area like Zuidas extremely attractive. If due attention is devoted to 'blue' and 'green', Zuidas will indeed become Amsterdam's top location for international commerce and a high-quality residential environment. But water and greenery have another purpose: they contribute to good water management in such a dense, paved district.
The buildings (existing and planned) and open spaces in Zuidas lead to compaction of the subsoil. To ensure that rainwater is absorbed, stored and transported away, there must be adequate surface water as well. Two canals – the Irenegracht and the new De Boelegracht – will form the backbone of the water management system for Zuidas. Lakes, ponds, water features and 'green roofs' also have an important part to play and have been included in the plans. Read more
Links
Waterstorage
Greenery and Water photo overview
Did you know
- The new De Boelegracht canal will play an essential part in water storage and management, while also offering opportunities for nature development.
- In recent years, peregrine falcons have frequently been spotted on the taller buildings in Zuidas.
Contact
For further information about green spaces and water in Zuidas, please contact Harry Wien (project manager) on +31 20 575 2490, e-mail hwn@zuidas.nl
