‘build a harbor or water playground at Lombokplein’

Utrecht architect and D66 member Ivo van Capelleveen calls for a more attractive design of the area around the Park Plaza Hotel on Westplein. He calls the current plan “surprisingly boring” and therefore made three sketches that include a harbor.

The Westplein is currently still an area with a lot of traffic, but this has to change in the future. In a few years, the square, which will be renamed Lombokplein, will be redesigned and there must be room for houses, greenery and water. This also includes the area at the end of the Park Plaza hotel bicycle tunnel.

Boring

“In Lombok Square’s plans, the area around the Park Plaza Hotel is surprisingly drab. Despite the city’s favorable geographical location, many car parks have been designed, ”explains Capelleveen.

The city is divided in two by the central station of Utrecht and the railways. The only way to get from one side to the other is via the Moreelsebrug or through tunnels.

“It creates a major emotional barrier in the city. We can limit this emotional barrier by ensuring that there are places at the ends of the tunnels that just make you a little bit happy as a cyclist or a pedestrian.

Playground

According to Capelleveen, the corner of the Park Plaza Hotel is perfect for this, but it is not used in current plans. The first sketch he made shows a square with an aquatic playground and various catering establishments.

In his second proposal, he designed a city beach and new buildings with catering facilities on the ground floor. The third sketch shows a port where an old ship with a public service will be moored.

Check out the three sketches below this post.