‘An asphalt carpet’ – landscaping the Volgers grounds


Project type: Preliminary design
Commissioned by: Leygraaf projectontwikkeling
Location: Alkmaar (NL)
Date: 2007

Volgers mechanic’s workshop is situated along the ring road around Alkmaar. The road looks like a highway: two times two asphalt bands with a green strip in between. This road has its own, high speed. Cars rush along and there is little time to see the surroundings. The perception of the road is very different late at night, after the traffic jam or on a car-free day. The concept for the landscape of the neighboring site is inspired by this other, slow and landscape like quality of the motorway.

It is only when you are moving with very little speed that the very large scale – compared to humans – is experienced. Also, only when walking and sitting the almost velvet-like quality of the pavement is experienced, which would also be ideal to skeeler, paint with chalk or play soccer on it. Following this line of thought, the courtyard of the new buildings is designed as an asphalt carpet. Like Oriental carpets also this one tells us a story: the story of mobility without moving. Yellow lines are the only elements that run over the monochrome, black velvet surface.

The lines and gap to the parking below (as interpretation of the green strip between the lanes) resemble the silence of the still highway. They also link to the history of the location as a workshop. In the carpet there are footprints in the shape of cars, which feature collective functions. Here are playgrounds, plants and lunch break areas. The landscape design itself uses a lot of pavement resulting in low maintenance costs. Commission by Landstate BV (Leygraaf). Buildings designed by De Vries Uitterhoeve architecten.