Dakdokters Studio collaborates with two other firms in this ambitious initiative. De Urbanisten, a Rotterdam-based firm, leads the project and handles community engagement and stakeholder involvement. DS Landscape Architects focuses on enhancing biodiversity and creating a planting plan. Dakdokters Studio’s role is primarily in design and ensuring that the technical implications of design decisions are thoroughly considered. Together, these teams aim to create a sustainable and nature-focused future for the Hofbogen, emphasizing urban ecology.
Balancing public access with private ownership
One of the unique complexities of the project is that the Hofbogen viaduct is owned by a private developer. “One of the most challenging aspects is that the park must be public, but it’s built on private property,” explains Friso. “The developer purchased it with the expectation of being able to add more square footage on top, which added another layer of complexity. This created a political dynamic between the municipality and the developer, which sometimes impacted the design process.”
A park for local residents
Despite these complexities, the core vision for the project has remained intact. “The integrity of the design has really been preserved over the past three years,” Friso says. “The municipality has taken the potential for the park to become a tourist attraction or overly commercialized very seriously. They want the Hofbogen to remain a publicly accessible park with a primary focus on serving the local residents.”
“The municipality has taken the potential for the park to become a tourist attraction or overly commercialized very seriously. They want the Hofbogen to remain a publicly accessible park with a primary focus on serving the local residents.”
Community involvement was crucial to the project’s success, as it directly impacts the residents’ living environment. “We held several workshops,” Friso notes. “People appreciate the idea of more green space, but they’re also concerned about privacy. From the park, you can see directly into people’s homes, which naturally raises concerns.”
Structural difficulties
Technically, the Hofbogen project also presents significant challenges. Originally built as a viaduct, the structure was designed with a focus on construction rather than waterproofing, which is less of an issue for a viaduct but crucial for a building now housing businesses. “The developer is responsible for renovating the roof, while the municipality takes care of the park above it,” Friso explains. “We’ve gained a lot of experience throughout this process. Working in such a complex environment, with little room for error, puts a lot of pressure on ensuring the roof is strong and waterproof. These are considerations you need to address from the start, especially in terms of responsibilities for maintenance and dealing with any potential issues like leaks.”
“Working in such a complex environment, with little room for error, puts a lot of pressure on ensuring the roof is strong and waterproof. These are considerations you need to address from the start, especially in terms of responsibilities for maintenance and dealing with any potential issues like leaks.”
Crafting a functional and historic pathway
What Friso is most proud of is the design of the park itself. “A big challenge was designing a long, narrow pathway. It’s only 6 meters wide, so people need enough space to pass each other without feeling cramped. If you’re not careful, it ends up just being a path with a planter next to it. We did a lot of research to get this right, and I think it turned out really well. We also incorporated references to the history of the railway, such as reusing old rail tracks in the design.”
“A big challenge was designing a long, narrow pathway. It’s only 6 meters wide, so if you’re not careful, it ends up just being a path with a planter next to it. We did a lot of research to get this right, and I think it turned out really well.”
Looking to the future, Friso is eager to take on similar projects in other cities across Europe. “More and more cities are searching for ways to add green spaces, and there’s often no room at ground level. Rooftops are a largely untapped resource, and I’m excited to work on projects like the Hofbogen in a broader European context.”
