van bergen kolpa architects: park supermarket

park supermarket by van bergen kolpa architects

rotterdam firm van bergen kolpa architects have developed ‘park supermarket’, a spatial development model for a landscape supermarket situated in the metropolitan parks of the randstad. the dutch polder landscapes, which were once the icons of the country’s food production, are now situated in inner city locations and are under pressure of rising water tables and climate changes. the architects posed the question – ‘can these areas play a new role in food and recreation needs for the randstad population, which today knows 170 different nationalities, food and culinary traditions?’

the park supermarket balance has been set up around food and its randstad consumers and is projected in the agrarian park landscape of the city. on good accessible locations like midden delfland and based on underlying soil types (peat and clay), new climate zones (moderate, mediterranean and tropical) and raised water levels an entirely new landscape is introduced where the contents of a contemporary supermarket are cultivated and sold. each department knows its characteristic growing conditions and product types such as pandan-en risotto rice on water terraces, tilapia fish in basins and kiwi’s and avocados along undulating fruit walls. the climate household of the outdoor supermarket is supported by old techniques such as warmth accumulating snake walls and more contemporary solutions as insulating water spray ‘roofs’ and floor heating on the basis of thermal warmth.

because of its set up in small plots of one hectare each park supermarket is able grow with the need for diversity of food of the consumer and the renewing insights in agrarian techniques. randstad inhabitants will in this way be able to consume and recreate in a new park landscape for the 21st century.

‘park supermarket’ is part of the exhibition ‘architecture of consequence’ opening today at the netherlands architecture institute and will be on display until may 16, 2010.

meat dairy department

fruit department

rice department

fish department

aerial view of park supermarket

model of park supermarket

existing landscape

supermarket concept

park supermarket location

how each crop can grow

floor plan of park supermarket

project info: client: stroom den haag en provincie zuid holland  project: foodprint 2009-2010 ‘voedsel voor de stad’ location: midden delfland programme: 1600 hectares of landscape supermarket  landscape and ecology advice: alterra wageningen UR, vincent kuypers model: werkplaats vincent de rijk planning: research 2009, design 2010, construction 2011