Pumping up public space in the Pijp

Plans to build a new parking garage under the Willibrordus square in the Pijp district were recently approved by the City of Amsterdam. This offers the opportunity to remove cars from the public domain and reclaim public space for pedestrians, cyclists and urban sports activities. The landscape designers Rob van Dijk, Annemiek Diekman and Natascha van de Ban have made a preliminary design for a larger urban square in an intensive participation process with local inhabitants and institutions. The revamped square will be a place to play, work out, meet and simply be, for locals as well as citizens from neighbouring districts. AXCO has been selected to design the entrance buildings and neighbourhood facilities, effectively integrating the practical aspects of an inner city parking garage with an attractive and active public space. AXCO will work closely together with CARVE and the landscape designers in the next few to bring the integrated design to a aesthetic and functional optimum.