Navy Museum in Den Helder
Nick -shally transformation in a Dutch city that has a little sympathetic reputation since the time of World War II.
There in the north of Netherlandseven at the northernmost point of the North Holland Peninsula, even at the extreme, it is Den Helder.
The city is known to be the place of birth of Gerardus’ T Hoof, which was the Nobel Prize for Physics 1999; It is known to be the headquarters of two of the main naval bases of the Netherlands.
But it is also known for being… “The ugliest city” of the country.
There is an origin for this designation: It was the most bombarded Dutch city during World War II.
This is such a destruction that There were no houses When the war is over. Therefore, it was necessary to build quickly and cheaply – originating Thousands of social housesalmost equal each other.
Another factor: economic problems, many inhabitants to leave the city and the departure of the Dutch royal navy. Everything originated a scenario of closed stores, degraded neighborhoods and urban decay.
But now Den Helder is going through a transformation Notable, the. There is innovative architecture and above all projects of Urban renewal. A new image, a new feeling of community pride.
For example, two apartment complexes from the 1970s, which have now been redesigned by architect Ron Van Leeuwen, inspired by the Casa Milà (Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona), have now been redesigned: the apartments have 3D printed wavy balconies – which, in addition to improving the aspect of the building, are generous outdoor spaces; Residents even cultivate the porch, in addition to the new panoramic views.
This remodeling is expected to be ready this month, March. It will then be the largest 3D printed building in the world.
The local City Hall bought Willemsoord’s dock and hired a design urban to elaborate an ambitious plan, to modernize the city centerrevitalizing the station area, commercial zones and residential neighborhoods. All to make Den Helder attractive to residents, military and tourists.
Os public spaces have been improved. To the streets e squares, Originally designed for a 120,000 population, they were resized to better suit the current 56,000 inhabitants (less than half). The cars now are parks, business streets now have Green areas and the cultural centers were moved to the historic area of Willemsoord, turning it into an excited zone of lazer.
Woningstiching den Helder, local housing corporation, is a protagonist in this reform. The corporation has 37% of the city’s housing park and, seeing the weak interest of investors, risked and Created your businessA, focused on social housing and community infrastructure.
And the projects multiplied: a colorful neighborhood in Duinpark or School 7, a former 1905 school converted into a public library-which was the Best New Public Library in the world em 2018.
But it is not just the physical structures that are changing: there is greater care with the historical riches from the city, the nightlife It was also revitalized, with cultural sites e restaurants to thrive in the picturesque Willemsoord riverside area.
And there is still a lot to do a lot: there 18 GREAT PROJECTS taking place in Den Helder.
The “ugliest city” became a rich cultural and innovative destination at the architectural level.
