Green Belt Utrecht

The Utrecht metropolitan region will see strong growth in residents and businesses over the next 30 years. This requires a unifying narrative in which the landscape also has a voice. That is why independent consultant on spatial quality Paul Roncken initiated the development of the Utrecht Green Belt.

An important starting point is to bring together initiators within the theme of healthy urban living. There is an initiative for a local brewery combined with barley and hop production and an initiative to develop tiny estates combining healthcare with food production and accommodation options. Efforts are underway to gradually convert peatlands to “chinampas” by local farmers, and there is an initiative for sustainable festival sites with solar roofs.

These initiatives will have a place in the Utrecht Green Belt and are the starting point of a landscape transformation. A circular “arcadian route” through the park provides cohesion and recognisability. Landscape bridges bring the landscape of Utrecht Green Belt into the city.

Year: 2017-2018
Type: landscape, spatial strategy
Client: province of Utrecht, independent consultant spatial quality Paul Roncken
Status: vision