European Landscape Architecture: Best Practice in Detailing

The Netherlands

Case study

The Portland Neighbourhood Park, Albrandswaard

Project data

Project name: Wijkpark Portland

Location: Albrandswaard

Date completed: Design process, 1999–2001

Construction: The hill (roughly shaped) 2000–2002

The park 2003–2004

Art application 2005

The pond 2007/2008

Cost: €1 million (excluding VAT and art application) cost level in 2000

Area: 5ha

Designer: ad Koolen (ad koolen | advies en ontwerp)

Client: Municipality of Albrandswaard

Overview

The Portland neighbourhood park is located in the municipality of Albrandswaard, to the south of Rotterdam.

In the 1990s the government designated land (mostly farmland) on the outskirts of existing towns for the

creation of the so-called VINEX housing estates. One of these, the Midden-IJsselmonde VINEX estate is

being developed jointly by the municipalities of Albrandswaard and Barendrecht. Scheduled for completion

by 2005, it will comprise approximately 10,000 housing units. The new neighbourhood contains two parks,

one to the east and one to the west of the polder. Here the western park, Portland neighbourhood park,

is described. The architecture of the new development lacks character, so the designers of the new com-

munity park have turned to the surrounding landscape for inspiration.

6.10
Map of the Netherlands showing Albrandswaard