STREET FURNITURE
THE SUSTAINABLE REINVENTION OF ROTTERDAM ’ S LAGE BERGSE BOS
In the greater urban environment of Rotterdam , Lage Bergse Bos is a popular recreational area due to its variation of forests , open meadows , and water features . Though much used , the area has changed little since its inception in the 1970s , with facilities becoming outdated . And as in many other locations in the Netherlands , ash tree dieback ( caused by fungal infection ) has resulted in significant tree removal and deforestation . With plans for a new tunnelled A16 highway to run semi-submerged through the site , this combination of factors provided a catalyst for a broader reconsideration of the Lage Bergse Bos with improvements including new planting , paths , water amenities , recreational facilities , and Streetlife site furnishings .
Landscape architecture firm Hosper developed a new vision for Lage Bergse Bos that prepares the area for the future environmentally , spatially , and recreationally . The improved Lage Bergse Bos has three sub-areas : the Bosrand ( Forest strip ), the Eilandenrijk ( Archipelago ), and the Park . These sub-areas have distinctive characteristics .
Firstly , areas of the Bosrand deforested by ash dieback and disease have been planted with a sustainable mix of different tree , shrub , and meadow species that better prevent diseases in the forest and result in a more
68 www . landud . co . uk Follow us @ ludmagazine