Green Vision Eindhoven

Eindhoven, like many cities in the Netherlands, is facing a major challenge in terms of climate, biodiversity and healthy environment. In addition, the current housing challenge, energy transition and mobility transition are placing a major claim on the public space and landscape within the urban contour. Eindhoven's green structure can contribute especially to a liveable and climate adaptive city if it is given significant space and, despite future densification tasks, is not in danger of being built up. The Eindhoven Green Vision is an elaboration of the green policy plan for a greener Eindhoven city center.

The analysis examined several pressing issues such as green space, mobility, new housing developments and climate. In response, Flux developed ambition maps for a varied and connected green structure. The important green structures for the center of Eindhoven are formed by the green wedges, linear structures such as the radials and tangents, and various places such as parks, squares and courtyards. These green structures do not stand alone but reinforce each other through mutual connections. For the green plan, 12 public space typologies are distinguished which encompass the entire public urban fabric, so that the entire inner city can become part of the green plan and the center of Eindhoven can, in phases, be given a green impulse.

At the structural level, the green ambitions were then depicted at specific locations in the city where there is an opportunity to tackle several tasks by greening, and show the urgency of a green living environment in future developments. Not all ambitions fit in at the same time at a particular spot, so choices have to be made. In one place there will be more emphasis on climate adaptation, while another place lends itself to recreation or relaxation. This list of 'green spots' is dynamic and can be expanded, and makes the green ambitions transparent in a diversity of scales, spatial tasks and different typologies. In this way, not only the potential of a roof, but also of an alley, urban park or square is depicted.

The Wilhelminaplein, for example, is a lively square with catering establishments that was traditionally used for markets and parties, but where today, on a relatively stone square, the car is dominant. Local residents and entrepreneurs therefore want to make the Wilhelminaplein the greenest square in Eindhoven. With a greater presence of trees, more quality of life, space for water storage and car-free. In participation with these residents and entrepreneurs, Flux has visualized an initial ambition in which the Wilhelminaplein will be transformed from a parking plaza into a park plaza. The concept was a green and climate-adaptive city square for meeting, cooling and recreate. A central open space provides space for various activities. People will soon be sitting on terraces under freely growing trees while Eindhoven residents visit the market and events and where children from the neighborhood can play. The green square stimulates biodiversity with varied planting, can store water during peak downpours and provides cooling on hot summer days. An attractive water element strengthens the cooling effect and creates an impulse for play and sound perception. The ambition is to gradually scale back the large number of roads and parking and to create a 'car is a guest' atmosphere with a shared-space design. Given the complexity of traffic flows and design, a phased transformation will be necessary.     

Eindhoven, The Netherlands, commissioned by the municipality of Eindhoven, public space, new nature, climate adaptation, mobility, Flux landscape architecture, 2022