August 13, 2026 News
With a series of new public spaces, we have transformed the Utrecht station quarter into a safe, inviting, and seamlessly integrated part of the city. The design was prompted by the need for expansion as desired by various stakeholders in the area. We linked this expansion to the city’s interests and to the restoration and utilisation of valuable historical structures. This approach enabled us to create new, attractive connections, enhance social safety, and establish high-quality, nature-inclusive public spaces in and around the station quarter.
Anchored by the new London Museum move into the iconic Poultry and General Markets, along with the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Line at Farringdon and the relocation of market functions, Smithfield will experience radical transformation over the coming years, evolving from its historic identity as a meat trading hub into a world-class, 24-hour cultural destination.
In collaboration with Hawkins\Brown, we are working on an ambitious public realm scheme that aims to create a unified, pedestrian-friendly and multi-functional public realm where Smithfield’s multiple histories and contemporary cultures intermingle.
Our design starts with the conviction that increasing urbanisation and climate change are intensifying the urgency to prepare cities for extremes such as heavy rainfall, drought, and heat stress. In Antwerp, long confronted with flooding and heatwaves, we translated this ambition into a pragmatic, research-by-design process to analyse, implement and design climate measures, including flood control, heat mitigation and the restoration of greenery, in line with the city’s District Plans Water and Green (WWG). The result is an integral masterplan that transforms today’s challenges into a promising opportunity to make Antwerp climate-resilient by 2040.
Cutty Sark Gardens is a public space, inspired by tides, that forms a hybrid between a square and a garden. By embracing and celebrating opposites, Cutty Sarks was designed to create a comfortable place to stay, yet fully connected with the continuous change and flow around it.
Fontys Hogescholen’s Rachelsmolen campus in Eindhoven is undergoing a remarkable transformation, evolving from a secluded island in the city to a captivating and inspiring educational environment.
The vision is to create a campus that revolves around human interaction, fostering innovation, experimentation, and entrepreneurial spirit through vibrant cross-pollination. We have undertaken the design of this ambitious new campus in collaboration with NUDUS, Barcode Architects and Hollandse Nieuwe interior architects.
The Hollandsche IJssel area is poised to become a strong, future-proof urban edge: a green-blue transition between the expanding urban region of Utrecht and the surrounding polder landscape. Through the Development Perspective Hollandsche IJssel 2040, we set out an actionable vision that strengthens this unique river landscape as a mediator between city and countryside, while safeguarding green space as an essential foundation for residents’ health, climate resilience and biodiversity.
Our proposal for reimagining the Cork North Docks – part of the wider Docklands plan – envisions the River Lee as a vibrant public space that reconnects northern communities. By relocating the riverside road, the plan creates an accessible, high-quality quayside for recreation and connection. Cork City aims to be a world-class, inclusive, and sustainable city, with a Strategic Vision centred on regional growth, diversity, and quality of life. The design is part of “Project Ireland 2040”, the government’s long-term strategy to make Ireland “a better country for all and to build a more resilient and sustainable future”.
Rouen Rive Droite station is a major transport hub with over 6 million annual passengers, located in the densely built historic city centre of Rouen in Normandy. The predominance of road infrastructure and the presence of numerous visual barriers hindered the mobility of soft modes and severely limits the opportunities for using the public realm. The station quarter has undergone a profound transformation to improve the comfort of use, accessibility of public transports and to create an attractive entrance into the city.
In a short span, Hengelo’s city centre has undergone a comprehensive transformation. This gives Marktplein square a new role as an active, future-proof, and appealing destination. The project marks a milestone in the transformation and redevelopment of the city centre of Hengelo as it transforms the biggest open space of the city into a green and active heart for all.
Towards a new city heart
The centre of Hengelo has been redefined based on a holistic vision for the entire city centre. Three core zones, each with its own character have been recognised and addressed. Each area is connected to historical and architectural landmarks, the three towers of Hengelo: the Lambertus church, the city hall and the Brink tower.
The Market square is a large urban space inherited from the period of the post-wat reconstruction. It has been conceived originally an open, clear, and paved urban space progressively colonised by cars during the 20th century. About 25 years ago, the square was redesigned and made car-free. It was clearly positioned as a market and event square. With the addition of trees and the new Brink shopping centre with its tower on the square, a more versatile image emerged. Nonetheless, the character hardly changed: during markets, it was bustling, but on other days and most of the time, it remained uninviting and hostile, it’s surface largely mineral and oversized, lacking any amenities or places to stay and to dwell.
Between 2010 and 2020, the need for change emerged. A design competition was held, and a plan involving a reconstruction of historical buildings won the public vote. Nevertheless, the plan lacked support from stakeholders and was abandoned. This experience drove a second attempt, with collaboration as a core requirement of the process.
Co-creation
From this second round, we collaborated to find a realistic optimal solution. As designers, we engaged extensively with local stakeholders. Instead of immediately presenting a design, we developed and visualised four distinct scenarios based on this input. These scenarios served as a starting point for extensive dialogues with multiple stakeholders. Approximately 1000 responses to these designs helped shape a final wish list. The most dominant response was a clear desire for more greenery and water, for ambiance, a pleasant environment, and sustainability. Simultaneously, space needed to be preserved for the weekly market and other events. Furthermore, the city expressed a strong desire to preserve the Brink Tower and the bear sculpture. All these wishes were incorporated into the resulting outcome, which was subsequently realised with broad support.
‘Torenkamer’: the Tower Room
To encapsulate the extensive – and sometimes conflicting – wish list, the square received a distinctive structure to form a metaphorical living room for the city: A large but light architectural structure frames a green and lush room.
The square’s inner core is designed as a living room for the city. It was specifically designed as a hospitable space with plenty of room for gatherings, sit-down areas, and all kinds of activities for all ages. This gives the square a green and hospitable character every day of the week. In contrast, the edges of the square have been left open and flexible, allowing shoppers to move freely during and outside market days. The steel frame forms a graceful boundary that separates these two areas and defines the walls of the Tower Room. Additionally, it houses lighting fixtures and supports climbing plants.
Circularity and climate adaptation
The space of the new market square feels new, but where possible, pre-existing structures and paving materials have been carefully integrated. The existing pavilion has been refurbished and integrated with the new square by adding a large podium and new underground bike parking facility. The existing large concrete slabs of the former market have been reused and reintegrated within the design of the new market strips along the central frame. Part of the existing concrete pavers have been retained and replace on site to create an encroachment zone along facades and shop windows along the square.
The design of the square is made to amplify the presence of green within the urban area. The centre of the square is conceived as lush garden. The integration of water has received a particular attention within the plan. On the south of the square, a large water element with stepping stones and wet vegetation forms an attractive landscape magnet and a playful area. On the sides of the gardens, two large swales have been designed to accommodate and infiltrate rainwater.
