Landscaping with subtle nod to surroundings

Bureau VERBEEK is giving substance to the green design of the future A2 motorway between the Het Vonderen and Kerensheide interchanges. According to landscape architect Romy Zwiers, the challenge lies primarily in translating the starting points into a concrete, attractive image for both road users and local residents, without losing sight of the overall vision.

After an earlier successful collaboration with Boskalis on the Buitenring Parkstad Limburg, the VERBEEK firm was asked to join the integral design team for the widening of the A2 as well, together with NEXT architects. “While the architectural firm focuses mainly on the civil aspect, we take care of the green design,” says Zwiers. “At the basis of our task was an extensive aesthetic program of requirements, with starting points for such things as tree species, crown density and the positioning of fauna grids. We translated that into a coherent and feasible landscape design.”

The road was designed as a parkway: a route without a rear end, attractive to both road users and local residents. “In doing so, the balance between aesthetics and functionality was continually sought. For example, the requirements called for a crown density of 60 percent, which in some places would lead to a too closed image. Increasing the tree spacing in places with a more open landscape created more transparency and a better relationship with the surroundings,” explains Zwiers. Existing forest plots were also retained as much as possible, which gave additional design freedom within the parkway concept.

At junctions and exits, each location will soon have its own character, inspired by its surroundings. “At the Urmond exit, for example, a grid of cherry trees and a slope with hornbeam and sweet cherry refer to the South Limburg hills. And at Born, red- and green-leaved trees provide a subtle nod to the surrounding estates,” Zwiers gives as an example. The design is now complete. “We are still involved now to monitor the spatial quality, working closely with NEXT architects and the Boskalis team.”