In Between Spaces is a plan to transform the area round the Brabanthallen business and entertainment complex in 's-Hertogenbosch into a bustling quarter that is to be the alter ego of the city's historic core. The ongoing redevelopment of the complex offers the opportunity to create an urban environment in the area abutting the old town. Innovative enterprises and cultural activities can be housed in the existing buildings. In addition, my plan seeks to realize a 'water-based habitat' and 'adventurers' habitats' (a reference to the Dutch Revolt in the 16th century). The redevelopment programme will once more orient the old town to the river Maas. The most important interventions involve digging a canal lengthwise along the peninsula to create an island and severing the east-west radial route joining the area with the A2 motorway. This route has been made redundant by the arrival of the ring road. Severing it enables the planning area to relate to Ertveldplas, the large expanse of water in the north-east of 's-Hertogenbosch. A new city route running along the canal is to join up with the planned parallel road. As everything must be done to prevent losing the special on-site characteristics during the redevelopment programme, I have done research into how these characteristics can best be deployed in the planning process.

The area is mainly given over to large building complexes with an internal structure of service roads and courtyards. Between the complexes lie enormous spaces many times bigger than the Parade or the Markt in the city centre. The six shores of the pier, the peninsula and the new island are defined on the strength of existing features. The 4.2-metre difference in height between the water and the ground plane is bridged by creating intermediate levels at the water's edge to strengthen the relationship with the water.

I have opted for the strategy of a spatial framework within which the new quarter can fully unfurl. This framework is shaped by the shores together with the complexes and intervening spaces to be retained. The various sites can be freely built up within the given planning preconditions.

These preconditions differ for pier, peninsula and island. Those for the buildings on the narrow pier derive from the afore-mentioned definition of the shores. As for the peninsula, the preconditions obtain at block level. I began by defining the spaces that will inform the design of the peninsula. Its two large sites can be built up with different development types. The large blocks need to be structured internally, giving rise in the new parts to the service roads and courtyards typical of the existing complexes. The island is a brand-new element without existing buildings. Here the planning restraints obtain at lot level and are targeted at individual clients. Owners have a 200m2 plot at their disposal on which to build one or more houses. The island has four large building sites internally structured by informal back paths.

Place of education: AvB Amsterdam
Specialization: Urban design
Tutors: Hans van der Made, Peter Lubbers, Luc Vrolijks