- Year
- 2023
- Status
- Built
- Location
- Deventer, Netherlands
The Hanseatic city of Deventer was founded at the site of the overwhelmingly large Lebuinus church by the city’s patron St. Lebuinus. A historic cemetery turned into a gracelesscarpark, the cluttered Grote Kerkhof square lacked grandeur. The task was to redesign it in a way that it honors its rich history and looks to the future, invites to meet and stay and isaccessible to everyone. After several earlier designs failed on lack of support, the task was given to BoschSlabbers to make a design that could count on broad support and thatwould create co-ownership, and thus be realized and experienced! Through an intensive participation process, BoschSlabbers engaged residents and entrepreneurs, building broad support for a design that prioritizes both “grandeur andconviviality.” This is expressed through groups of trees, terraces, a water feature with spouts, and seating areas that foster a welcoming environment.