Shooting Range Walkway
New Grounds and Walden Studio were invited to revive a gritty corner of the Marineterrein, in the heart of Amsterdam. This central urban area is undergoing a transformation from military compound to an innovative area with a mix of housing and work and educational facilities. There is space for more than 800 homes and a city park. Meanwhile, the Marineterrein already houses innovative entrepreneurs and educational institutions, and functions as an urban lab, experimenting with interventions for a sustainable and equitable future.
Despite the stunning sunset views over the IJ, the area surrounding the former shooting range was neglected and undervalued. The windowless bunker, once used for military shooting exercises, had been subjected to an ongoing graffiti battle in recent years.
Local businesses, passersby, and residents were interviewed to develop a step-by-step design strategy for the site. As a first step, a planting plan was implemented, allowing the bunker to be slowly overgrown with plants blooming in the same colors as the graffiti, and the old square was revitalized.
Both the Marineterrein and the municipality of Amsterdam aim to reduce the use of new raw materials. In line with this ambition, the walking path over the bunker was designed and executed as a radical exercise in circular construction. Three of the most commonly used building materials – steel from a demolished cowshed, wood from former sheet piling, and cement from concrete – were all reused with minimal modifications and without compromising quality.
The revitalized square serves as a stage for outdoor activities, with a wide staircase with seating. The adjacent sculptural walking path offers stunning views over the water. A bakery has taken up residence in the head of the bunker, offering freshly baked goods. The bakery and the walking path are attracting more and more visitors, who can enjoy performances, exhibitions, and the expansive view both indoors and outdoors. Taken together this intervention of the shooting range breathes new life into what was once an abandoned corner of Amsterdam.
Project details
Design: New Grounds, Walden Studio
Project Location: Kattenburgerstraat 5, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Typology: Urban design, circular construction
Design year: 2023
Year Built: 2023
Client: Bureau Marineterrein
Thematic program: New Grounds
Technical implementation: Walden Studio
Landscape design: Hanneke Marseille
Structural engineer wood: Summum Engineering
Structural engineer steel: B&V Raadgevend Ingenieurs
Contractor wood: Oostveen Tuinen en Houwer bouwt
Contractor steel & concrete: Vlaar Groep BV
Production recycled steel: ZTE metaalbedrijf BV
Photo credits: © Melchior Overdevest
New Grounds
New Grounds is a landscape studio led by pioneering urban planner Boj van den Berg. They discover, design, and build – both physically and programmatically – landscapes as pioneers in the lead-up to ambitious developments. They often do this commissioned by organizations managing an area (temporarily). But also in collaboration with municipalities, developers, or architects. Discovering, designing, and building together is at the core of their work. For each project, they assemble a team that is as local as possible.
Walden Studio
Walden is a design and development agency for sustainable architecture and urban planning. A passion for challenging architecture is the reason for their existence, but above all they believe in an integrated approach that increases happiness and reduces ecological footprint. Walden often works together with companies with other specializations to realize assignments, from ecology and economy to carpentry or art. This multidisciplinary background ensures that they look beyond the boundaries of architecture and actually create financial, ecological and social impact.