CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN LEIDSCHE RIJN

The design combination of bureau SLA,  Inbo, Overtreders W, Woonpioniers and Boom Landscape won the design assignment for a new cultural heart on Berlijnplein in Utrecht Leidse Rijn, united in the ‘De Pleinmakers’ (Square makers) consortium.

Cultural Heart Berlijnplein is a new cultural development of 9,200 m2, including the design of layout of the associated site. The cultural heart will allow for exhibition and presentation spaces, studios for dance, theater and music, workshops, catering and workshops for education and the creative industry. Naturally, the buildings and area will facilitate creativity, innovation and network events. The culture cluster is built and operated in a circular and energy-neutral way and is flexible in design, so that it can adapt along with the changing needs of the space and our society.

“Vibrant cultural heart with a constructive carrier that functions as a socket for future transformations by different generations of ‘Pleingenoten’ (square companions).”

The cultural heart will be a public part of the city where the Pleingenoten will soon be housed. Together they give the city a lively, cultural heart. We do not want a closed building block here, but rather an open and accessible area. There are no “insides” and the cluster does not look as massive block. With the culture cluster we are creating something for different generations of Pleingenoten, because it will last for a long time. Therefore the design will be largely determined by how it will function now and in the future. It is important that we take responsibility for the common interest over a long period of time.

facts & figures

design: De Pleinmakers – bureau SLA, Inbo, Overtreders W, Woonpioniers and Boom Landscape
client: Gemeente Utrecht
co-operation: Vink Bouw, Studio R, BLOC, Adviesbureau DWA, Pieters Bouwtechniek, Koen Koch, New Horizon Urban Mining
program: cultural and commercial
surface: 92.000m2 GFA
location: view in Maps
status: VO
realisation: expected end of 2026
more information: www.berlijnpleinutrecht.nl
renders: Vingtsix Visualizations

design & build