location research square-study for Vredenburg Utrecht written by Sybren Stroo
This booklet contains a part of the method I use that supports the end result, which is a new design for the public space on the Vredenburgsquare in Utrecht. In advance to making a design I attempt to find new methods and procedures to design for the public space. I’m elucidating different ways of square design that are focussing on various elements surrounding and defining the public space itself. Farther afield there will be a comparison between different square designs with cross-cuts, maps and plans.
This is a satellite-view of the Vredenburgsquare, which is the canvas of my design project.
This schematic image shows the urban context of the square. There is a small index above where the general activities and functions are listed.
ke nd rag ers tee
retail
Dom tower 110m
zak
Neude square 90m
food & non-food functions on the square actortypes around the square Bakerstreet, MannekePis, Market on vredenburg at shoppingcrowd, cultural tourRegularCafé, FishKiosk, wednesday 10:00 - 17:00 hr, ist, passer-by FlowerKiosk friday10:00 - 18:00 hr, saturday 08:00 - 17:00 hr
g
elements in direct environment: retail and commercial functions Douglas, ThePhoneHouse, iciParisXL, GSM-shop, Dixons, DeRodeWinkel, PerrySport, Esprit, CoolCat, Sacha, Steps, InWear, Peek&Cloppenburg
retail
drie
har ing
stra at
retail
vredenburgplein
major busstation
thstraat
lange elisabe
retail
to be constructed (appartments & retail)
achter clarenbug
to be reconstructed (”Music Palace”)
to be reconstructed (retail)
Central Trainstation 350m
The next few pages contain the urban contexts of different locations that are relevant to the square design process. Each time accompanied with a satellite-view image, a crosssection and a plan, all in the appropriate scale.
Plaza Mayor, Madrid
functions surrounding the square
usually retail with billboards on the faรงades, and a small amount of various lunchrooms
routing over the square
usually retail with billboards on the faรงades, and a small amount of various lunchrooms
program on the square
usually retail with billboards on the faรงades, and a small amount of various lunchrooms
experience using the square
usually retail with billboards on the faรงades, and a small amount of various lunchrooms
Times Square, New York
functions surrounding the square
various functions are possible, because it depends on the function and location of the sqaure itself_
routing over the square
it depends on the function of the elements on the square, but they tend to attract and distract_
program on the square
program on the square are the magnets, likely to be commercial but can also be cultural_
experience using the square
by adding public (art) elements to the square it becomes a reconition point of orientation and gathering_
City Theater square, Rotterdam
functions surrounding the square
similar to emphasis on faรงades but more attention to activity and social interaction on the square_
routing over the square
adding a platform is like zoning the square with a physical border within which the public strolls_
program on the square
elevation helps the area to becomes another plateau on which public mingles with few commerce_
experience using the square
the elevation makes the public to disconnect from the rest of the area and abide on the platform_
City Lounge, St. Gallen
functions surrounding the square
various functions are possible, because it depends on the function and location of the sqaure itself_
routing over the square
making the square more dominant towards the faรงades makes people tend to use it more intensively_
program on the square
the square could be an artproject by itself or there could be various of (non) commercial functions_
experience using the square
usually the square, in this case, is open and free to use how ever one wants to, public tends to stay_
Vredenburgsquare, Utrecht
functions surrounding the square
usually retail with billboards on the faรงades, and a small amount of various lunchrooms_
routing over the square
square is usually empty (except for markets) but public tends to walk along the windows of the shops_
program on the square
generally there is no or few program planned in the design, there are markets on regular basis_
experience using the square
the faรงades are usually occupied by commerce and carry billboards and marketing accesory_
Beneath there is a overall view of the different square circumstances, combined with small elaborations according to the aspects on the left side of the page.
façade square
different square circumstances
emphasis on façades
functions surrounding the square functions surrounding
usually retail with billboards the façades,on the usually retailon with billboards and a small amount of of façades, and a small amount various lunchrooms_ various lunchrooms
the square
routing over the square
routing over the square
program on the square
program on the square
experience using the square example
experience using the square
square is usually empty (except for square is usually empty markets) but public tends to walk for markets) but along(except the windows of the shops public tends to walk along generally there is no or few the windows thedesign, shops_ program planned inofthe there are markets on regular basis generally there is no or the façades are usually occupied few program planned in by commerce and carry billboards the design, there are marand marketing accesory_
kets on regular basis_
the façades are usually occupied by commerce and carry billboards and marketing accesory_
emphasis on square
emphasis on elevation/relegation
various functions are possimilar to emphasis on sible, because depends but more atten- but various functions areitpossible, similarfaçades to emphasis on façades on the functionon and to activity andand social because it depends thelocafunction more tion attention to activity social tion of the sqaure itself_ interaction the square_ and location of the sqaure itself_ interaction on the on square_
making the square more dominant adding a platform is like zoning the making the square more adding a platform is like towards the façades makes people square with a physical border towards the fathepublic square with tend dominant to use it more intensively_ withinzoning which the strolls_ çades makes people tend a physical border within elevation helps the area to the square could be an artproject to use it more intensively_ which the public strolls_ by itself or there could be various becomes another plateau on which of (non)commercial functions_ public mingles with few commerce_ the square could be an elevation helps the area to usually the square, in this case, is the elevation makes the public to artproject by itself or there becomes another plateau open and free to use how ever one disconnect from the rest of the area could be various of (non) on which public mingles wants to, public tends to stay_ and abide on the platform_
commercial functions_
with few commerce_
usually the square, in this case, is open and free to use how ever one wants to, public tends to stay_
the elevation makes the public to disconnect from the rest of the area and abide on the platform_
emphasis on elements on square
various functions are posbecause it depends varioussible, functions are possible, onitthe function andfunction locabecause depends on the tion ofofthe and location thesqaure sqaure itself_ itself_ it depends on the function of the it depends on the function elements on the square, but they the elements on the tend toof attract and distract_ square, but they tend to program on the square are the attract distract_ magnets, likelyand to be commercial but can also be cultural_ program on the square by adding (art) elements are public the magnets, likely to to the square it becomes a reconition be commercial but can point of orientation and gathering_
also be cultural_
by adding public (art) elements to the square it becomes a reconition point of orientation and gathering_
? The questionmark on this square shows the blankness of the plan of Vredenburgsquar so far. In the next part of my research I will use scale modelling to find new ways to design for the square in Utrecht. This search for innovative method and equal design status is born in my research proposal.