02-06-2020

Online meetup Urban Design. The report.

Online meetup Urban Design. The report.

To draw up the urban design for Kennispark, we asked input from entrepreneurs and property owners in the area during an online meetup on 14 May. What are their ideas about parking? Do we miss any facilities? What can we pick up together? It was an interactive first session with an interesting yield. The second session will be organized on 2 July. You can register via info@kennispark.nl.

Urban design & mobility

The urban design is the last necessary step towards a zoning plan. In this design we give the frameworks where there is room for development opportunities. Karres and Brands, together with Goudappel Coffeng, have been selected to give shape to this design, which also includes the mobility plan. Bart Brands guided us through what has happened during the sketching sessions so far. Afterwards, entrepreneurs and real estate owners could give their input around various themes. These themes are shown below.

Design so far: knowledge district takes shape

Bart Brands and his design team are committed to the formation of a knowledge district, where entrepreneurs are given room to do business. This includes various types of facilities. The latter will be retrieved from the area and must fit in with the ambitions of the area vision of 2018. “It is important that a kind of shared campus is formed at Kennispark, where people find it logical to meet. That atmosphere somewhere in the centre of the park can then be expanded in various directions. It is important, however, that a street like Institutenweg still has space for loading and unloading, and Hengelosestraat, for example, could serve as a shop window. You now drive through the area rather unnoticed, it might be better to adapt the Hengelosestraat so that you notice where you are passing by. In addition, we think it is important to find a balance in mobility, because this also says something about the quality of the area. Where can you get to by car, where can you park and where are logical interchanges on last mile transport?

Real estate owners & entrepreneurs have their say
Theme 1: Parking

Karres and Brands think of three flavours with regard to the parking problem at Kennispark. It is noted that we are not short of places, but mainly have an intensity problem in certain places. The three flavours are: sharing existing parking areas, central parking at Grolsch Veste with last mile transport and various parking hubs, where the parking hubs also provide space for electric charging, picking up parcels, public green areas and shared facilities, for example. The solution for parking hubs really appealed to the participants, although questions were asked about the financial feasibility. In order to make sacrificing one’s own parking spaces and investing in parking hubs attractive, one can also look at advantages in terms of development space. For example, anyone who co-invests in these hubs could get extra development space from their own real estate. This type of reward system is certainly worth investigating.

Building coalitions

For the realisation of such parking hubs, a participant indicates that the management role should lie with the municipality. Central to this role should be: bringing together promising locations, entrepreneurs and real estate owners and subsidy flows. Investing together can yield various types of profit for participants: one provides a visible location and receives development space in return, while the other sees added value in facilitating employees at various support facilities. For example, a receptionist can be relieved by providing a pick-up service for parcels in the area. Paying for something that is now free of charge is still seen as odd, but by looking beyond parking, investing together can actually contribute to one’s own business operations. Bart Brands advises to forge coalitions at promising locations and look for the common denominator together. You can first focus on parking and add quality to the vacant area, after which you can start building on the hubs. And if we all take 40 small steps, we’ll end up with a treasure trove of added value! On whatever level.

–> Do you want to help build the coalitions and do you have a concrete idea? Report it to us via info@kennispark.nl.

Principe_parkeerhubs

Theme 2: Facilities & living

The same reward system as described above can also apply to sustainable and ‘shared’ initiatives: the expansion of development space on your plot in exchange for measures relating to climate adaptation, circularity or collective facilities in the plinth of your business premises. In addition to the latter, during the design process we ask ourselves the question: why would I want to live there? One of the participants indicated that expats are definitely interested in living in this area. Strijp-S is a good example of how this is already happening in a good way and this principle would also be promising here. After all, expats want to be close to knowledge. In addition, a real estate owner sees that housing can give an enormous quality boost to the area, although the parking solution has to be considered. They are also asked under what conditions housing is made possible. The same question also applies to the frameworks in which it will be possible to add recreation and more catering to the area. Wishes that have been expressed on the question which things are of value for the area:

  • Mix of functions
  • Sports elements, fitness centres, gyms
  • Catering
  • AH to go
  • Living -> Aarhuus in Denmark is given as an example
  • Childcare
  • Shop function
  • Students

Theme 3: Clustering

What is the value of clustering in the area on certain themes? Not very large, according to the reactions, scattered across the park is fine. However, the importance of clustering on the whole is underlined, for example by using MedTech. One of the participants did indicate that the focus now seems to be mainly on technical cluster formation, while these cannot do without social innovations. It was asked to also look at the connection between technical and social innovations in the area.

–> We would like your opinion on cluster formation. What are we going to acquire in the coming period? Fill in the survey!

Theme 4: Hengelosestraat

The Hengelosestraat is an important part of the total upgrading of the area. The profile may not (or no longer) be suitable for use. The question arises whether we can design the street in such a way that we feel more like driving into an innovative area. It is suggested that a meandering street enhances the atmosphere and thus prevents roaring through it. The space that is left could be used for iconic buildings. There are still lots along the Hengelosestraat and the question is how the market develops now. Bart Brands does, however, indicate that an urban design provides the dynamic framework for future developments, not so much that it has to be done now. One of the participants hopes that there will also be a broader perspective than just looking at offices to fill in these lots. For example, there is now a particular demand for high-quality production areas with support areas, such as lab facilities. There is less demand for secondary office buildings.

Second session: 2 July

The second online session will be held on 2 July from 15-17 hrs. During this online session the designs will be presented. We are especially curious about reactions and remarks that we can take into account when finalizing the urban design. In September the city council will consider the design. You can register via info@kennispark.nl. You will then receive a participation link a few days in advance.

Any questions? Remarks? Things we still have to take with us? Mail it to info@kennispark.nl.

Contact

PO Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
info@kennispark.nl

Privacy & Terms

Hengelosestraat 500
7521 AN Enschede
info@kennispark.nl

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