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Winner of a Merit Award, the plan converts underused harbor space in Rotterdam into vibrant urban parkland for South Maashaven’s underserved neighborhoods

SWA/Balsley’s Nelson Mandela Park Master Plan in Rotterdam, Netherlands, was named a winner of 2021 Design Awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects, New York City Chapter. The annual program recognizes excellence in the practice of landscape architecture and the winning entries are selected based on quality of design and execution, innovation, and impact on community and the profession.

The Nelson Mandela Park Master Plan, identified by the City of Rotterdam as one of the Big Five park projects, provides much-needed central neighborhood and civic open space in the city’s South Maashaven district, a home  to a growing and increasingly diverse population. The City challenged the designers to transcend its well-known park paradigm of landscape art into environmental performance and an embrace of the multi-cultural milieu. An active community engagement process ensured that the new park design will be responsive to its diverse stakeholders and provide a catalyst for future development in this fast-growing urban district.

Inspired by the natural hydrology and tidal vegetation systems of the river, Nelson Mandela Park Master Plan celebrates the maritime heritage of Rotterdam while harnessing the coast for the benefit of future generations. The holistic, socially-, culturally- and ecologically-driven approach includes a vision for the Culture Campus that will give the park a unique identity within Rotterdam’s park system and waterfront  comprising a naturalized shoreline, marsh habitats, multi-purpose lawns, tree groves, and sculpted knolls and overlooks. The important park connection to public transit invites diverse groups from far and wide to gather and engage.
Strategically, the park integrates with the City’s flood defense levee that runs adjacent to the east side for a seamless connection to surrounding neighborhoods. Further, this park edge will align with the new levee promenade along the prominent Pretorialaan commercial boulevard creating a welcoming gateway for the regular stream of everyday users.

The design team advocated to create a space large enough size to accommodate more community programming. The Master Plan features multiple flexible lawn areas for community events, all-age play grounds in a shaded tree grove, a cultural plaza, overlooks, and marsh walk. The water’s edge was conceived as a dynamic experience, integrating innovative tidal pools, wetland habitats, and a local water taxi station and pavilion.