Tuschinski Park
Tuschinski Park (Coolhaven Park) is about connecting and staying. The design focuses on creating a leafy, shady park with a powerful relationship to the water. Designed from "facade to waterfront," the park minimizes the amount of paving required for car infrastructure, ensuring that all continuous routes for cars, bicycles, and pedestrians are spatially integrated as part of the park experience.
Projects details
Location:
Rotterdam
Surface:
10 ha
Area:
2 Ha
Design team:
Juurlink [+] Geluk
Client:
Gemeente Rotterdam
Construction:
2017-2022
Status:
Realised
Landscape:
Juurlink [+] Geluk
Program:
Transformation of a former urban road into a 2-hectare public linear park at the Coolhaven waterfront.
The design reinvents the quality of the water and creates an integral waterfront that is accessible and activated.
From Facade to Waterfront
The uniqueness of the park lies in its comprehensive approach, where the landscape is designed from the building facades all the way to the water's edge. This strategy ensures that the park is not just a green strip next to the buildings, but a unified environment. By minimizing hard paving and integrating infrastructure, the park offers a tranquil oasis in a high-density urban context, functioning as a vital extension of the living environment for residents and visitors.
Tree Grids and Rugged Landscapes
The vegetation strategy uses a grid of seven different tree species to create a structured yet natural feel. In combination with the reed banks at the shore, this creates a rugged park image. This wilder, ecological character is contrasted by sections of tightly mown lawns, providing a variety of atmospheres for different activities. The careful selection of plant species enhances urban biodiversity while providing much-needed cooling and wind shelter.
Staying and Playing by the Water
Staying and playing in the park are strongly linked to the water. The landscape is designed with a high level of accessibility, featuring a fine network of alleys and small squares. These spaces provide varied opportunities for social encounters, leisure, and events. By providing a direct visual and physical link to the Coolhaven, the park reactivates the waterfront and transforms a former through-road into a destination with a high-quality residential atmosphere.
Linear Park Expansion
Tuschinski Park is part of a larger urban strategy to create a continuous green link through Rotterdam. As a linear park, it connects to existing green structures like the Heemraadssingel and the historical Het Park. This ecological "stepping stone" strategy allows fauna to move through the city more easily while providing the surrounding neighborhoods with a high-quality, nature-inclusive outdoor space that is active 24 hours a day.