In Merwede, biodiversity and people come first

Bird’s-eye view along the canal

What will the public space look like with no more cars? In the preliminary design for the public space of Merwede, Utrecht’s newest city district, the starting point is green; paving is only where necessary, making it an exceptionally green district. As one of the largest car-free inner-city neighborhood projects in the Netherlands, there is much more space for biodiversity, urban rewilding, and social activities than if the public space was used for roads, crossings, and car parking. In the car-free Merwede, LOLA utilizes the space for nature, people, and water storage.