Watersquare Benthemplein

The water square Benthemplein in Rotterdam holds a twofold strategy: it is public space and storm water storage combined in one space. The square is part of a strategy to increase climate resilience by adaptive measures. A new way of creating extra funding for high-quality public space is applied here: this square has been largely financed by water management departments and innovation subsidies.

The water square combines water storage with the improvement of the quality of urban public space. The water square can be understood as a twofold strategy. It makes money invested in water storage facilities visible and enjoyable. It also generates opportunities to create environmental quality and identity to central spaces in neighborhoods. Most of the time the water square will be dry and in use as a recreational space. It took six years from the idea and concept, to typologies, to policy, to spatial design.

Read more about the project here.

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