Schalkwijk: a revitalised neighbourhood

Abstract

In recent years, shopping malls are facing an increasing amount of vacancy problems, due to the rise in online shopping. The research within this project looked into the visitors’ perspective concerning the functional, architectural, identifiable and social values of three shopping malls in the Netherlands. The outcome of the research shows that the visitors value the functional aspects of the mall most often, with everyday values such as ‘the grocery stores’, ‘the fact that the mall is nearby’ or that there are ‘a lot of shops’. From the outcome of the research, it could be concluded that the emphasis at the mall is on the necessary activities.

To create a place where a broader spectrum of activities will take place, the re-design of the Mall of Schalkwijk (Haarlem) focuses on a mix of functions with the addition of different dwelling types, offices, shops and green spaces. The connecting element in the project is the passage, which is repurposed from a closed traffic space to an open place to stay. The passage connects the shops and restaurants with a new square at the location of the old expedition space of the shops. An important factor in the design is the implementation of green to reduce the UHI effect and to increase human comfort at the site. Important interventions in the re-design are a boulevard with a green colonnade, façade gardens, green roofs and the quadrupling of the amount of trees on the site. To conclude, this re-design is an attempt to value what is already there and improve, making it ready for the future.