Water square Benthemplein - 8a Biennal 2014

Florian Boer, Eduardo Marin, Dirk Van Peijpe

The water square Benthemplein holds a twofold strategy: it is public space and storm water storage combined in one space. The square is part of a strategy to increase climate resilience by adaptive measures. A new way of creating extra funding for high quality public space is applied here: this square has been largely financed by water management departments and innovation subsidies.
Three basins collect rain water: two undeep basins for the immediate surroundings receive water whenever it rains, one deeper basin receives water only when it consistently keeps raining. Here water is collected from a larger area. All that can flood is painted in shades of blue. Rainwater that falls on the square runs via generous stainless steel gutters into the basins. Special features are a rain well, a water wall and a baptistery.
The space is gently defined and subdivided by a green structure of high grasses, colorful flowers and existing large trees. The water square creates a new context for modernist buildings around it and the impressive artwork of Cobra artist Karel Appel. But most important, the square creates a landscape of possibilities for urban use by hundreds of young people.

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